This document describes a multipurpose telemedicine system that can be used for emergency cases or patient monitoring. The system consists of a telemedicine unit that collects patient vital signs and images at the incident site, and a base unit where a doctor can view the data from the patient site and provide remote consultation. The telemedicine unit transmits data via GSM, satellite, or POTS networks to the base unit. The system was tested across four countries in emergency cases, demonstrating improved accuracy of initial diagnoses compared to cases without telemedicine consultation.
Computers have become integral tools in the medical field, helping doctors discover, test, and apply new techniques while also providing an infrastructure to share medical knowledge globally. Computers are used extensively in areas like CT scans, heart rate monitoring, surgery, research, and spectroscopy, creating new opportunities to save lives and advance human health. In particular, technologies like CT scans and MRI machines use computer processing to generate detailed images of the inside of the body.
This document provides an in-depth analysis of the ultrasound market including key details about ultrasound systems, technologies, clinical applications, major industry players, market trends, and global market size and forecasts. Specifically, it surveys almost all companies marketing ultrasound equipment worldwide, discusses each in depth, and includes detailed tables and charts on sales forecasts, market share, and more.
This document provides information on teleconsultation including its definition, types, examples, and implementation in various medical fields. It discusses two main types of teleconsultation - real-time (synchronous) and delayed (asynchronous). Real-time uses live video conferencing while delayed uses stored digital files sent electronically. Examples provided are telepsychiatry and teleradiology. The document also summarizes teleconsultation networks implemented in radiation medicine, Malaysia, and specific networks for telecardiology, teledermatology, and teleradiology. Finally, it outlines strategies for future upgrades to infrastructure, connectivity speed, software, and devices.
When most patients visit physicians in a clinic or a hospital, they are asked about their medical history and related medical tests’ results which might not exist or might simply have been lost over time. In emergency situations, many patients suffer or sadly die because of lack of pertinent medical information. Patient’s Health information (PHI) saved by Electronic Medical Record (EMR) could be accessible only by a hospital using their EMR system. Furthermore, Personal Health Record (PHR) information cannot be solely relied on since it is controlled solely by patients. This paper introduces a novel framework for accessing, sharing, and controlling the medical records for patients and their physicians globally, while patients’ PHI are securely stored and their privacy is taken into consideration. Based on the framework, a proof of concept prototype is implemented. Preliminary performance evaluation results indicate the validity and viability of the proposed framework.
Information technology is increasingly being used in healthcare at all levels of the community. Recent times have seen many nursing education programs offered online. There are two main types of online education - store and forward which transfers information between locations, and face-to-face programs using video conferencing. Technologies like email, digital photography, teleradiology, telepathology, and videoconferencing allow for fast, reliable, and economical communication of health information worldwide. These technologies make sharing images and data easier and reduce costs while increasing access to specialty care for rural populations. However, there are also challenges to greater telehealth adoption like physician licensing across borders and lack of infrastructure in some rural areas.
Insomnia analysis based on internet of things using electrocardiography and e...TELKOMNIKA JOURNAL
1. The document proposes a system to analyze insomnia remotely using electrocardiography and electromyography sensors connected via the Internet of Things. This allows for insomnia testing without patients needing to travel to healthcare centers.
2. The system collects ECG and EMG sensor data from patients and transmits it over the Internet to a server for analysis and visualization in real-time. Artificial neural networks are used to classify patient data and determine if they have insomnia.
3. Testing showed the system can accurately transmit patient data over the Internet, even at weak signal strengths. Error rates for data transmission were below 3% in all tests. This demonstrates the feasibility of the proposed remote insomnia analysis system using IoT-connected
A FRAMEWORK FOR THE INTERCONNECTION OF CONTROLLER AREA NETWORK (CAN) BASED CR...ijait
Patient monitoring helps increasing the mortality by timely notification of exceeding vital signs. By using the vital sign data the critical care staff can make necessary life saving interventions. This requires the underlying network to be very robust so that timely and error free information flow can be guaranteed. Moreover there is a need for a cost effective and robust network technology for continuous and real- time vital signs monitoring in resource constraint settings in developing countries. In this paper we proposed a system of hospitals with interconnected intensive care units. Each intensive care unit employs Controller Area Network (CAN) as underlying technology for networking of bedside units. The data of these bedside units can be communicated with other hospital using higher level protocols such as Ethernet. This allow the hospital staff to share the health information of the patients with the specialized staff in another hospital to provide better cure to the patient and consequently can increase the mortality.
The IMPRESS solution provides a multi-agency coordination and decision support system to improve response during health emergencies. It was developed over 3 years as an EU research project. The IMPRESS system facilitates information sharing and coordination between health services and first responders. It includes tools like INCIMAG for incident management, INCIMOB for first responders, and several decision support components. The system was tested in large exercises in Italy and cross-border scenarios to demonstrate its capabilities.
Computers have become integral tools in the medical field, helping doctors discover, test, and apply new techniques while also providing an infrastructure to share medical knowledge globally. Computers are used extensively in areas like CT scans, heart rate monitoring, surgery, research, and spectroscopy, creating new opportunities to save lives and advance human health. In particular, technologies like CT scans and MRI machines use computer processing to generate detailed images of the inside of the body.
This document provides an in-depth analysis of the ultrasound market including key details about ultrasound systems, technologies, clinical applications, major industry players, market trends, and global market size and forecasts. Specifically, it surveys almost all companies marketing ultrasound equipment worldwide, discusses each in depth, and includes detailed tables and charts on sales forecasts, market share, and more.
This document provides information on teleconsultation including its definition, types, examples, and implementation in various medical fields. It discusses two main types of teleconsultation - real-time (synchronous) and delayed (asynchronous). Real-time uses live video conferencing while delayed uses stored digital files sent electronically. Examples provided are telepsychiatry and teleradiology. The document also summarizes teleconsultation networks implemented in radiation medicine, Malaysia, and specific networks for telecardiology, teledermatology, and teleradiology. Finally, it outlines strategies for future upgrades to infrastructure, connectivity speed, software, and devices.
When most patients visit physicians in a clinic or a hospital, they are asked about their medical history and related medical tests’ results which might not exist or might simply have been lost over time. In emergency situations, many patients suffer or sadly die because of lack of pertinent medical information. Patient’s Health information (PHI) saved by Electronic Medical Record (EMR) could be accessible only by a hospital using their EMR system. Furthermore, Personal Health Record (PHR) information cannot be solely relied on since it is controlled solely by patients. This paper introduces a novel framework for accessing, sharing, and controlling the medical records for patients and their physicians globally, while patients’ PHI are securely stored and their privacy is taken into consideration. Based on the framework, a proof of concept prototype is implemented. Preliminary performance evaluation results indicate the validity and viability of the proposed framework.
Information technology is increasingly being used in healthcare at all levels of the community. Recent times have seen many nursing education programs offered online. There are two main types of online education - store and forward which transfers information between locations, and face-to-face programs using video conferencing. Technologies like email, digital photography, teleradiology, telepathology, and videoconferencing allow for fast, reliable, and economical communication of health information worldwide. These technologies make sharing images and data easier and reduce costs while increasing access to specialty care for rural populations. However, there are also challenges to greater telehealth adoption like physician licensing across borders and lack of infrastructure in some rural areas.
Insomnia analysis based on internet of things using electrocardiography and e...TELKOMNIKA JOURNAL
1. The document proposes a system to analyze insomnia remotely using electrocardiography and electromyography sensors connected via the Internet of Things. This allows for insomnia testing without patients needing to travel to healthcare centers.
2. The system collects ECG and EMG sensor data from patients and transmits it over the Internet to a server for analysis and visualization in real-time. Artificial neural networks are used to classify patient data and determine if they have insomnia.
3. Testing showed the system can accurately transmit patient data over the Internet, even at weak signal strengths. Error rates for data transmission were below 3% in all tests. This demonstrates the feasibility of the proposed remote insomnia analysis system using IoT-connected
A FRAMEWORK FOR THE INTERCONNECTION OF CONTROLLER AREA NETWORK (CAN) BASED CR...ijait
Patient monitoring helps increasing the mortality by timely notification of exceeding vital signs. By using the vital sign data the critical care staff can make necessary life saving interventions. This requires the underlying network to be very robust so that timely and error free information flow can be guaranteed. Moreover there is a need for a cost effective and robust network technology for continuous and real- time vital signs monitoring in resource constraint settings in developing countries. In this paper we proposed a system of hospitals with interconnected intensive care units. Each intensive care unit employs Controller Area Network (CAN) as underlying technology for networking of bedside units. The data of these bedside units can be communicated with other hospital using higher level protocols such as Ethernet. This allow the hospital staff to share the health information of the patients with the specialized staff in another hospital to provide better cure to the patient and consequently can increase the mortality.
The IMPRESS solution provides a multi-agency coordination and decision support system to improve response during health emergencies. It was developed over 3 years as an EU research project. The IMPRESS system facilitates information sharing and coordination between health services and first responders. It includes tools like INCIMAG for incident management, INCIMOB for first responders, and several decision support components. The system was tested in large exercises in Italy and cross-border scenarios to demonstrate its capabilities.
This document summarizes various applications of computers in the field of medicine, including using electronic medical records (EMR) for hospital administration, patient monitoring machines, medical laboratories analyzing blood and urine samples to test for diseases and genetic disorders, echocardiograms and CT scans to examine the heart and detect tumors, MRI to see tumors and blood circulation using magnetic fields rather than x-rays, and ultrasounds especially to monitor pregnancies. It also discusses pacemakers, key-hole surgeries assisted by robotic arms, potential uses of nanobots and computer chips to repair tissues, and disadvantages like potential misuse of medical information found online without doctor supervision.
This document discusses the use of computers in medicine and biology. In medicine, computers are used for X-rays and CT scans to produce images of internal structures, MRI to map internal structures without radiation, monitoring patient vital signs, and robotic surgery. Computers also store diagnostic information in databases and allow it to be instantly accessible worldwide. In biology, computers enable visual simulations and illustrations to help understand concepts, and are used for research through accessing online information and experimental simulations.
The document discusses collaborations between the University of British Columbia's Departments of Electrical and Computer Engineering and Anesthesiology, Pharmacology & Therapeutics to improve safety in operating rooms and beyond through physiological monitoring and closed-loop control of anesthesia. It provides an overview of funded projects from 2003-2013 including online monitoring of parameters, tactile displays, trend detection algorithms, and a phone-based oximeter for global health applications.
This document summarizes a remote health monitoring system using wearable body sensors to monitor cardiovascular disease patients. The system consists of three parts: 1) Wearable body sensors that collect physiological data from patients, 2) A personal server (PDA) that prioritizes and transfers data to 3) A medical server connected to the cloud where data can be accessed by medical staff. The system aims to efficiently respond to emergencies by prioritizing vital sign data and notifying medical staff of changes in a patient's heart health.
This document discusses the various applications of information technology in veterinary science. It begins by introducing veterinary informatics and some key areas where IT is applied, including disease surveillance using geo-informatics, disease diagnosis using various imaging technologies, artificial intelligence in health management, and data analysis. It then discusses veterinary hospital management software and its features and advantages. Next, it covers dairy herd management software and its benefits. Finally, it briefly mentions telemedicine and its role in veterinary care.
This document describes the Small Animal Molecular Imaging Unit at the University of Helsinki. The unit provides SPECT/CT imaging services and expertise for non-clinical imaging studies in areas like oncology, neurology, and drug delivery. Services include SPECT/CT imaging, radiochemistry, and collaborations on molecular imaging projects. The facility has a NanoSPECT/CT scanner and isotope laboratory. It also notes research collaborations with domestic and international partners.
The document describes the Elekta Infinity linear accelerator system. It highlights its flexibility to treat a wide range of anatomical sites, its high definition beam shaping capabilities, fast leaf speeds, and advanced image guidance tools. It emphasizes its ability to efficiently treat complex cases while reducing treatment times and non-therapeutic dose.
This document describes a mobile patient monitoring solution called MOBISAUDE that was developed and tested at the Hospital de São Sebastião in Portugal. The system uses wireless sensors and networks to monitor patients' vital signs like ECG and transmit the data to doctors. It aims to reduce healthcare costs by enabling early patient discharges and remote monitoring while improving care quality. The hospital trialled MOBISAUDE on patients with heart conditions to validate the sensors and wireless transmission in real-world clinical use. Results showed its potential to benefit high-risk cardiac patients through early detection of issues and increased safety and quality of life.
Visensia is ph
ysiological monitoring software that collates and analyses data from bedside
monitors on 5
vital signs to produce a single patient health status score. This is used for early
identification of deterior
ation that might lead to cardiac or respir
atory arrest. One prospectiv
e,
single-centre, before-and-after study found that patients monitored with Visensia had a
statistically significantly shorter a
verage dur
ation of an
y cardio-respir
atory instability and fewer
episodes of serious and persistent instability
, although changes in patient management ma
y have
influenced these findings. The Visensia software requires e
xisting ph
ysiological monitors to pro
vide
data and costs £1950 for a 1-bed perpetuity licence; individual hospital systems are priced
according to size and include installation and configur
ation charges
communication's application in medical fieldSharanjit Kaur
ICT plays a significant role in the medical field through communication tools, medical equipment, research, and patient records. Wireless medical devices allow for remote monitoring of patients' vital signs and improved mobility. Technologies like Bluetooth and WiFi enable wireless transmission of physiological data from sensors on the patient's body to monitoring stations. Long range medical telemetry uses licensed spectrum to transmit patient data over longer distances, improving access to healthcare. The integration of ICT has changed medicine by enhancing communication, learning, and access to information.
Computers play an important role in veterinary surgery by assisting with diagnosis, surgical planning and guidance, patient management, and other applications. They allow virtual simulations that can replace animal testing and provide educational opportunities. Computers also help manage patient data and records in veterinary hospitals. Advanced imaging technologies like CT scans, MRIs, ultrasounds, and digital radiography integrate computer processing and allow veterinarians to non-invasively visualize internal structures. New computer-assisted techniques like laparoscopic surgery, robotics, and natural orifice procedures further aid veterinary specialists.
Information and communications technologies (ICT) in Health. TELEMEDICINEJosep Vidal-Alaball
This document provides an overview of telemedicine including its history, types, uses, evidence, and examples. It discusses how telemedicine has evolved from early uses of telegraphs and telephones to today's digital technologies. The main types of telemedicine are asynchronous, synchronous video conferencing, and remote patient monitoring. Evidence shows telemedicine can improve access and reduce wait times while high patient and provider satisfaction. Examples from Catalonia demonstrate successful telemedicine programs in dermatology and wound care.
This document discusses the use of computers in veterinary surgery and medicine. It outlines the history of computers from Charles Babbage's concept in the 1830s to their use in veterinary science in the 1980s. Computers can be used as virtual labs to model drug effects, as simulators for surgical and medical training, and for data management in veterinary hospitals. They also assist with diagnosis, developing treatment plans, education, and various imaging and surgical techniques like digital radiography, ultrasound, CT scans, and MRI.
IRJET- Cardiovascular Disease Prediction using Machine Learning TechniquesIRJET Journal
This document discusses predicting cardiovascular disease using machine learning techniques. It begins with an introduction stating that cardiovascular disease is a leading cause of death and that predictive modeling using machine learning can help mitigate this situation. It then reviews literature on previous studies applying machine learning techniques like random forest classifiers, K-nearest neighbors, and neural networks to cardiovascular disease prediction. The document proposes using a random forest classifier on a cardiovascular disease dataset to classify patients' risk in 4 stages with an accuracy of 97.56%. It describes preprocessing the dataset, training a random forest model on 75% of the data and testing it on the remaining 25%. In summary, the document reviews previous work applying machine learning to cardiovascular disease prediction and proposes classifying patients' risk into 4
Medical imaging is part of a changing medical environment, a changing
patient environment and consequently a new medical world. In the
recent decennium one of the most important changes in radiology is the
conversion from analogue to digital. In no time medical images have
become interchangeable through the digital highway and could be postprocessed
in a different location. Teleradiology has become a reality
since then. We have seen the maturation of commercial international
teleradiology companies offering a wide portfolio of services. Another
aspect is the availability of image data for all medical specialties beyond
radiology and beyond the regular medical disciplines. An increasing
number of surgical or oncological specialties and even pharmaceutical
companies increasingly use image data to prepare a strategy for
operative procedures, to choose the right therapy, to decide which
prosthesis to the best to use, for follow-up or for post-processing
purposes. They are supported by many new techniques and software.
An increasing number of medical computer applications such as complex
navigation and visualisation tools based upon digital images is already
in clinical use or under development. Another trend is the increasing
interest in E-health and telemedicine in Europe, also among European
policy makers. Now we see mobile health that brings care directly into
the patient environment. The purpose of this presentation is to give a
comprehensive overview of and insight into these new developments and
to create awareness among radiologists of the increasing importance of
integration of medical imaging in a multidisciplinary environment.
IntroductionRemote monitoring, or telemonitoring, can be r.docxmariuse18nolet
Remote monitoring, also known as telemonitoring, involves monitoring patient vital signs and health data from a distance using electronic and telecommunications technologies. It can involve monitoring between locations within the same building or across different continents. The document discusses the key components of most telemonitoring systems, including data acquisition sensors, data transmission, data integration and analysis, response escalation, and data storage. It also outlines current clinical uses in home monitoring of chronic diseases, disaster medicine, ambulance services, and hospitals. While some studies have found benefits, others have not, and more research is still needed to fully understand its effectiveness.
Telemedicine and telecardiology reportJose Pinilla
This document discusses the use of telemedicine and telecardiology to improve access to cardiovascular care for rural populations. It describes how technologies have evolved from early telephone consultations to modern interactive systems using devices, videoconferencing, and digital imaging to allow remote patient monitoring and virtual consultations. The document also examines specific telehealth programs in Canada, including Telehomecare and Telestroke networks, that aim to reduce hospital visits and improve outcomes for patients with heart conditions through remote care delivery models.
The document discusses various applications and approaches in telemedicine. It defines telemedicine as the provision of healthcare services using information and communication technologies when the healthcare professional and patient are not in the same location. It describes different telemedicine technologies and applications including telesurgery, clinical kiosks, telepathology, mobile health monitoring, and remote intensive care units. It also discusses infrastructure requirements and case studies of telemedicine programs in places like Alaska, Mexico, and Denmark.
1. Ambulance telemetry uses telecommunication technologies to allow medical personnel in ambulances to monitor patients and consult with specialists during transport.
2. The Ubon model of ambulance telemetry in Thailand successfully implemented telemetry in STEMI patients to monitor them during interfacility transfers. This reduced mortality rates from 37% to 31% for severely injured trauma patients requiring interfacility transport.
3. Key factors for a successful ambulance telemetry program include establishing a long-term vision and financial plan, effective training programs, integrating the technology into standard care processes, appointing a full-time coordinator, and publishing results.
Telemedicine is defined as the delivery of healthcare services using telecommunications technology when distance is a factor. There are three main types: store-and-forward, remote monitoring, and interactive services. Telemedicine provides benefits to patients like reduced costs and travel, and benefits healthcare systems by improving access and reducing unnecessary visits and hospitalizations. However, there are also barriers to telemedicine like physician and patient acceptance of technology, high costs, unreliable infrastructure, lack of trained professionals, and privacy/legal concerns.
Tele-Cardiology Services in the UK - Telehealth Magazine (April 2008)Ofer Atzmon
The document summarizes a pilot study conducted in the UK that tested a tele-cardiology service using wireless electrocardiogram (ECG) devices. The devices transmitted ECG readings from primary care clinics to a monitoring center where clinicians interpreted the results and provided advice. The pilot found the tele-cardiology service improved patient care by expediting diagnosis, eliminating some emergency visits, and increasing information quality for hospital visits. It also identified potential for huge cost savings compared to standard care.
This document summarizes various applications of computers in the field of medicine, including using electronic medical records (EMR) for hospital administration, patient monitoring machines, medical laboratories analyzing blood and urine samples to test for diseases and genetic disorders, echocardiograms and CT scans to examine the heart and detect tumors, MRI to see tumors and blood circulation using magnetic fields rather than x-rays, and ultrasounds especially to monitor pregnancies. It also discusses pacemakers, key-hole surgeries assisted by robotic arms, potential uses of nanobots and computer chips to repair tissues, and disadvantages like potential misuse of medical information found online without doctor supervision.
This document discusses the use of computers in medicine and biology. In medicine, computers are used for X-rays and CT scans to produce images of internal structures, MRI to map internal structures without radiation, monitoring patient vital signs, and robotic surgery. Computers also store diagnostic information in databases and allow it to be instantly accessible worldwide. In biology, computers enable visual simulations and illustrations to help understand concepts, and are used for research through accessing online information and experimental simulations.
The document discusses collaborations between the University of British Columbia's Departments of Electrical and Computer Engineering and Anesthesiology, Pharmacology & Therapeutics to improve safety in operating rooms and beyond through physiological monitoring and closed-loop control of anesthesia. It provides an overview of funded projects from 2003-2013 including online monitoring of parameters, tactile displays, trend detection algorithms, and a phone-based oximeter for global health applications.
This document summarizes a remote health monitoring system using wearable body sensors to monitor cardiovascular disease patients. The system consists of three parts: 1) Wearable body sensors that collect physiological data from patients, 2) A personal server (PDA) that prioritizes and transfers data to 3) A medical server connected to the cloud where data can be accessed by medical staff. The system aims to efficiently respond to emergencies by prioritizing vital sign data and notifying medical staff of changes in a patient's heart health.
This document discusses the various applications of information technology in veterinary science. It begins by introducing veterinary informatics and some key areas where IT is applied, including disease surveillance using geo-informatics, disease diagnosis using various imaging technologies, artificial intelligence in health management, and data analysis. It then discusses veterinary hospital management software and its features and advantages. Next, it covers dairy herd management software and its benefits. Finally, it briefly mentions telemedicine and its role in veterinary care.
This document describes the Small Animal Molecular Imaging Unit at the University of Helsinki. The unit provides SPECT/CT imaging services and expertise for non-clinical imaging studies in areas like oncology, neurology, and drug delivery. Services include SPECT/CT imaging, radiochemistry, and collaborations on molecular imaging projects. The facility has a NanoSPECT/CT scanner and isotope laboratory. It also notes research collaborations with domestic and international partners.
The document describes the Elekta Infinity linear accelerator system. It highlights its flexibility to treat a wide range of anatomical sites, its high definition beam shaping capabilities, fast leaf speeds, and advanced image guidance tools. It emphasizes its ability to efficiently treat complex cases while reducing treatment times and non-therapeutic dose.
This document describes a mobile patient monitoring solution called MOBISAUDE that was developed and tested at the Hospital de São Sebastião in Portugal. The system uses wireless sensors and networks to monitor patients' vital signs like ECG and transmit the data to doctors. It aims to reduce healthcare costs by enabling early patient discharges and remote monitoring while improving care quality. The hospital trialled MOBISAUDE on patients with heart conditions to validate the sensors and wireless transmission in real-world clinical use. Results showed its potential to benefit high-risk cardiac patients through early detection of issues and increased safety and quality of life.
Visensia is ph
ysiological monitoring software that collates and analyses data from bedside
monitors on 5
vital signs to produce a single patient health status score. This is used for early
identification of deterior
ation that might lead to cardiac or respir
atory arrest. One prospectiv
e,
single-centre, before-and-after study found that patients monitored with Visensia had a
statistically significantly shorter a
verage dur
ation of an
y cardio-respir
atory instability and fewer
episodes of serious and persistent instability
, although changes in patient management ma
y have
influenced these findings. The Visensia software requires e
xisting ph
ysiological monitors to pro
vide
data and costs £1950 for a 1-bed perpetuity licence; individual hospital systems are priced
according to size and include installation and configur
ation charges
communication's application in medical fieldSharanjit Kaur
ICT plays a significant role in the medical field through communication tools, medical equipment, research, and patient records. Wireless medical devices allow for remote monitoring of patients' vital signs and improved mobility. Technologies like Bluetooth and WiFi enable wireless transmission of physiological data from sensors on the patient's body to monitoring stations. Long range medical telemetry uses licensed spectrum to transmit patient data over longer distances, improving access to healthcare. The integration of ICT has changed medicine by enhancing communication, learning, and access to information.
Computers play an important role in veterinary surgery by assisting with diagnosis, surgical planning and guidance, patient management, and other applications. They allow virtual simulations that can replace animal testing and provide educational opportunities. Computers also help manage patient data and records in veterinary hospitals. Advanced imaging technologies like CT scans, MRIs, ultrasounds, and digital radiography integrate computer processing and allow veterinarians to non-invasively visualize internal structures. New computer-assisted techniques like laparoscopic surgery, robotics, and natural orifice procedures further aid veterinary specialists.
Information and communications technologies (ICT) in Health. TELEMEDICINEJosep Vidal-Alaball
This document provides an overview of telemedicine including its history, types, uses, evidence, and examples. It discusses how telemedicine has evolved from early uses of telegraphs and telephones to today's digital technologies. The main types of telemedicine are asynchronous, synchronous video conferencing, and remote patient monitoring. Evidence shows telemedicine can improve access and reduce wait times while high patient and provider satisfaction. Examples from Catalonia demonstrate successful telemedicine programs in dermatology and wound care.
This document discusses the use of computers in veterinary surgery and medicine. It outlines the history of computers from Charles Babbage's concept in the 1830s to their use in veterinary science in the 1980s. Computers can be used as virtual labs to model drug effects, as simulators for surgical and medical training, and for data management in veterinary hospitals. They also assist with diagnosis, developing treatment plans, education, and various imaging and surgical techniques like digital radiography, ultrasound, CT scans, and MRI.
IRJET- Cardiovascular Disease Prediction using Machine Learning TechniquesIRJET Journal
This document discusses predicting cardiovascular disease using machine learning techniques. It begins with an introduction stating that cardiovascular disease is a leading cause of death and that predictive modeling using machine learning can help mitigate this situation. It then reviews literature on previous studies applying machine learning techniques like random forest classifiers, K-nearest neighbors, and neural networks to cardiovascular disease prediction. The document proposes using a random forest classifier on a cardiovascular disease dataset to classify patients' risk in 4 stages with an accuracy of 97.56%. It describes preprocessing the dataset, training a random forest model on 75% of the data and testing it on the remaining 25%. In summary, the document reviews previous work applying machine learning to cardiovascular disease prediction and proposes classifying patients' risk into 4
Medical imaging is part of a changing medical environment, a changing
patient environment and consequently a new medical world. In the
recent decennium one of the most important changes in radiology is the
conversion from analogue to digital. In no time medical images have
become interchangeable through the digital highway and could be postprocessed
in a different location. Teleradiology has become a reality
since then. We have seen the maturation of commercial international
teleradiology companies offering a wide portfolio of services. Another
aspect is the availability of image data for all medical specialties beyond
radiology and beyond the regular medical disciplines. An increasing
number of surgical or oncological specialties and even pharmaceutical
companies increasingly use image data to prepare a strategy for
operative procedures, to choose the right therapy, to decide which
prosthesis to the best to use, for follow-up or for post-processing
purposes. They are supported by many new techniques and software.
An increasing number of medical computer applications such as complex
navigation and visualisation tools based upon digital images is already
in clinical use or under development. Another trend is the increasing
interest in E-health and telemedicine in Europe, also among European
policy makers. Now we see mobile health that brings care directly into
the patient environment. The purpose of this presentation is to give a
comprehensive overview of and insight into these new developments and
to create awareness among radiologists of the increasing importance of
integration of medical imaging in a multidisciplinary environment.
IntroductionRemote monitoring, or telemonitoring, can be r.docxmariuse18nolet
Remote monitoring, also known as telemonitoring, involves monitoring patient vital signs and health data from a distance using electronic and telecommunications technologies. It can involve monitoring between locations within the same building or across different continents. The document discusses the key components of most telemonitoring systems, including data acquisition sensors, data transmission, data integration and analysis, response escalation, and data storage. It also outlines current clinical uses in home monitoring of chronic diseases, disaster medicine, ambulance services, and hospitals. While some studies have found benefits, others have not, and more research is still needed to fully understand its effectiveness.
Telemedicine and telecardiology reportJose Pinilla
This document discusses the use of telemedicine and telecardiology to improve access to cardiovascular care for rural populations. It describes how technologies have evolved from early telephone consultations to modern interactive systems using devices, videoconferencing, and digital imaging to allow remote patient monitoring and virtual consultations. The document also examines specific telehealth programs in Canada, including Telehomecare and Telestroke networks, that aim to reduce hospital visits and improve outcomes for patients with heart conditions through remote care delivery models.
The document discusses various applications and approaches in telemedicine. It defines telemedicine as the provision of healthcare services using information and communication technologies when the healthcare professional and patient are not in the same location. It describes different telemedicine technologies and applications including telesurgery, clinical kiosks, telepathology, mobile health monitoring, and remote intensive care units. It also discusses infrastructure requirements and case studies of telemedicine programs in places like Alaska, Mexico, and Denmark.
1. Ambulance telemetry uses telecommunication technologies to allow medical personnel in ambulances to monitor patients and consult with specialists during transport.
2. The Ubon model of ambulance telemetry in Thailand successfully implemented telemetry in STEMI patients to monitor them during interfacility transfers. This reduced mortality rates from 37% to 31% for severely injured trauma patients requiring interfacility transport.
3. Key factors for a successful ambulance telemetry program include establishing a long-term vision and financial plan, effective training programs, integrating the technology into standard care processes, appointing a full-time coordinator, and publishing results.
Telemedicine is defined as the delivery of healthcare services using telecommunications technology when distance is a factor. There are three main types: store-and-forward, remote monitoring, and interactive services. Telemedicine provides benefits to patients like reduced costs and travel, and benefits healthcare systems by improving access and reducing unnecessary visits and hospitalizations. However, there are also barriers to telemedicine like physician and patient acceptance of technology, high costs, unreliable infrastructure, lack of trained professionals, and privacy/legal concerns.
Tele-Cardiology Services in the UK - Telehealth Magazine (April 2008)Ofer Atzmon
The document summarizes a pilot study conducted in the UK that tested a tele-cardiology service using wireless electrocardiogram (ECG) devices. The devices transmitted ECG readings from primary care clinics to a monitoring center where clinicians interpreted the results and provided advice. The pilot found the tele-cardiology service improved patient care by expediting diagnosis, eliminating some emergency visits, and increasing information quality for hospital visits. It also identified potential for huge cost savings compared to standard care.
Cellular-Based Mobile-Health System in Sweden - ATA Conference San Diego Abst...Ofer Atzmon
The TeleMedIS system was developed as a joint project between Israeli and Swedish partners to provide remote patient monitoring, communication between patients and physicians, and real-time control of personal medical devices. The system consists of a wrist-worn MDKeeper device that measures vital signs, a TeleMed HC software platform, and a cellular network. Engineering trials successfully tested the system's usability, communication functions, reliability, and security. Clinical trials are underway to evaluate the system's performance in real-life hospital and home settings. The results so far indicate the TeleMedIS system has potential benefits for patients, physicians, and healthcare providers through remote monitoring, more efficient care, and cost savings.
Survey on Mobile Based Telemedicine System for Patient Monitoring and Diagnos...IJERA Editor
This document summarizes a research paper on developing a mobile-based telemedicine system for remote patient monitoring and diagnosis in Sikkim, India. The system would use sensors to monitor patients' vital signs like ECG, temperature, blood pressure, etc. at remote hospitals and health centers. It then transmits the data in real-time via cellular networks or stores and forwards it via the internet to a main hospital serving as a remote server unit. There, specialized doctors could monitor patients' health status and diagnose issues. The goal is to provide 24/7 medical care across Sikkim, which faces challenges in remote healthcare access due to its hilly terrain and lack of facilities.
The document provides an overview of how information and communication technology (ICT) can be used in critical care units (CCU). It discusses several key ICT tools and applications including critical information systems, computerized physician order entry (CPOE), hand-held technology, and telehealth initiatives. These technologies allow for management of large patient volumes, research, error reduction, workload reduction, collaboration, and faster treatment implementation in CCUs.
This document describes a patient monitoring system using Android technology. It discusses collecting a patient's vital signs like ECG, heart rate, breathing rate, temperature, and oxygen saturation from a monitoring device and entering them into a database. The data is then uploaded to a web-based server and sent to a doctor's phone using an Android app. The app allows doctors to remotely monitor the patient's parameters and provide feedback to the nurse station. The system aims to improve patient care by enabling constant monitoring and early intervention before doctors reach the hospital.
2006 a wrist-worn_integrated_health_monitoring_instrument_with_a_tele-reporti...Gaurav Butail
The document describes the development of a wrist-worn integrated health monitoring device (WIHMD) with tele-reporting capabilities for use in telemedicine and home care applications. The WIHMD measures 6 vital signs: fall detection, single-channel ECG, noninvasive blood pressure, pulse oximetry, respiration rate, and body surface temperature. It is small at 60x50x20mm and lightweight at 200g. The device can automatically detect emergencies and transmit patient data via commercial cellular networks to caregivers for remote monitoring and emergency response. The goal is to provide continuous home monitoring and rapid emergency response through telemedicine to improve health outcomes.
Telemedicine involves using telecommunication technologies to provide remote clinical healthcare. It overcomes barriers of distance and improves access to services for rural communities. There are three main types: interactive medicine with real-time communication between doctors and patients; remote patient monitoring using mobile devices; and store-and-forward sharing of health information. The first telemedicine system was set up in 1967 between Boston and Massachusetts. Telemedicine has advanced healthcare access and has limitations such as technical issues and state laws restricting access to out-of-state doctors.
GSM technology is used to monitor the different parameters of an ICU patient remotely and also control over medicine dosage is provided. Measurements of vital signs and behavioral patterns can be translated into accurate predictors of health risk ,even at an early stage and can be combined with alarm triggering systems in order to initiate the appropriate actions. The conventional methods including wet adhesive Ag/AgCl electrodes for HR and HRV, the capnograph device for respiratory status and pulse oximetry for oxyhemoglobin saturation provide excellent signals but are expensive, troublesome and inconvenient. A method to monitor physiological information based on GSM offers a new means for health monitoring. In this paper, we review the latest developments in monitoring and discuss the challenges and future directions for this field.
(Glossary of Telemedicine and eHealth)· Teleconsultation Cons.docxAASTHA76
(Glossary of Telemedicine and eHealth)
· Teleconsultation: Consultation between a provider and specialist at distance using either store and forward telemedicine or real time videoconferencing.
· Telehealth and Telemedicine: Telemedicine is the use of medical information exchanged from one site to another via electronic communications to improve patients' health status. Closely associated with telemedicine is the term "telehealth," which is often used to encompass a broader definition of remote healthcare that does not always involve clinical services. Videoconferencing, transmission of still images, e-health including patient portals, remote monitoring of vital signs, continuing medical education and nursing call centers are all considered part of telemedicine and telehealth. Telemedicine is not a separate medical specialty. Products and services related to telemedicine are often part of a larger investment by health care institutions in either information technology or the delivery of clinical care. Even in the reimbursement fee structure, there is usually no distinction made between services provided on site and those provided through telemedicine and often no separate coding required for billing of remote services. Telemedicine encompasses different types of programs and services provided for the patient. Each component involves different providers and consumers.
· TeleICU: TeleICU is a collaborative, interprofessional model focusing on the care of critically ill patients using telehealth technologies.
· Telemonitoring: The process of using audio, video, and other telecommunications and electronic information processing technologies to monitor the health status of a patient from a distance.
· Telemonitoring: The process of using audio, video, and other telecommunications and electronic information processing technologies to monitor the health status of a patient from a distance.
· Clinical Decision Support System (CCDS): Systems (usually electronically based and interactive) that provide clinicians, staff, patients, and other individuals with knowledge and person-specific information, intelligently filtered and presented at appropriate times, to enhance health and health care. (http://healthit.ahrq.gov/images/jun09cdsreview/09_0069_ef.html)
· e-Prescribing: The electronic generation, transmission and filling of a medical prescription, as opposed to traditional paper and faxed prescriptions. E-prescribing allows for qualified healthcare personnel to transmit a new prescription or renewal authorization to a community or mail-order pharmacy.
· Home Health Care and Remote Monitoring Systems: Care provided to individuals and families in their place of residence for promoting, maintaining, or restoring health or for minimizing the effects of disability and illness, including terminal illness. In the Medicare Current Beneficiary Survey and Medicare claims and enrollment data, home health care refers to home visits by professionals including nu.
The document discusses how the US Air Force has developed and implemented a telemedicine program over the past 3 years to provide medical care to service members and their families remotely. The program uses technologies like video conferencing, digital imaging, and store-and-forward capabilities to connect medical providers at military bases across the US and overseas with specialists. Examples are provided of how telemedicine has helped diagnose and treat patients in remote locations like Alaska and the Middle East.
The document discusses the features and advantages of a central patient monitoring system. It allows nurses to monitor multiple patients from a central location, monitor vital signs, receive alerts, integrate with other systems like EMRs. It provides clinical decision support tools, helps manage alarms to reduce alarm fatigue, and supports a continuous patient record.
Telemedicine in Skilled Nursing Facilities by Reza SadeghianReza Sadeghian
This document discusses using telemedicine in skilled nursing facilities to help avoid unnecessary hospitalizations. It finds that two-thirds of nursing home residents are on Medicaid and most are also enrolled in Medicare. These residents frequently experience avoidable hospitalizations, which are expensive and disruptive. The document outlines a study using telemedicine carts equipped with examination tools to help nurse practitioners manage acute changes in residents' conditions and palliative care assessments remotely rather than transferring residents to hospitals unnecessarily. The study found the telemedicine approach helped avoid hospital transfers 60% of the time with estimated cost savings of $396,000.
Clinical Data Collaboration Across the Enterprise Carestream
In addition to the CARESTREAM Vue PACS installed in 2003, the hospital has implemented full electronic ADT and paperless Ancillaries, EMR Adoption, full electronic medication CPOE and a Structured and Document Clinical Repository (connected to regional EHR).
Despite the completeness of this IT infrastructure, the hospital was still searching for an optimal solution for an integrated clinical image repository and distribution system.
The document describes Telecom Italia's Nuvola IT - Home Doctor telemedicine service. The service enables remote patient monitoring through collection of medical data from devices and transmission to Telecom Italia's secure telemonitoring platform. The platform allows for three service models: autonomous patient monitoring, caregiver-assisted monitoring, and surgery telemonitoring. The service provides benefits like cost savings, increased access to care, and improved patient well-being through continuous remote monitoring. Telecom Italia's solution integrates multiple medical devices and offers functionality like electronic health record integration and digital reporting of results.
Similar to Telemedicina "MULTIPURPOSE HEALTH CARE TELEMEDICINE SYSTEM" (20)
ISO/IEC 27001, ISO/IEC 42001, and GDPR: Best Practices for Implementation and...PECB
Denis is a dynamic and results-driven Chief Information Officer (CIO) with a distinguished career spanning information systems analysis and technical project management. With a proven track record of spearheading the design and delivery of cutting-edge Information Management solutions, he has consistently elevated business operations, streamlined reporting functions, and maximized process efficiency.
Certified as an ISO/IEC 27001: Information Security Management Systems (ISMS) Lead Implementer, Data Protection Officer, and Cyber Risks Analyst, Denis brings a heightened focus on data security, privacy, and cyber resilience to every endeavor.
His expertise extends across a diverse spectrum of reporting, database, and web development applications, underpinned by an exceptional grasp of data storage and virtualization technologies. His proficiency in application testing, database administration, and data cleansing ensures seamless execution of complex projects.
What sets Denis apart is his comprehensive understanding of Business and Systems Analysis technologies, honed through involvement in all phases of the Software Development Lifecycle (SDLC). From meticulous requirements gathering to precise analysis, innovative design, rigorous development, thorough testing, and successful implementation, he has consistently delivered exceptional results.
Throughout his career, he has taken on multifaceted roles, from leading technical project management teams to owning solutions that drive operational excellence. His conscientious and proactive approach is unwavering, whether he is working independently or collaboratively within a team. His ability to connect with colleagues on a personal level underscores his commitment to fostering a harmonious and productive workplace environment.
Date: May 29, 2024
Tags: Information Security, ISO/IEC 27001, ISO/IEC 42001, Artificial Intelligence, GDPR
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Find out more about ISO training and certification services
Training: ISO/IEC 27001 Information Security Management System - EN | PECB
ISO/IEC 42001 Artificial Intelligence Management System - EN | PECB
General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) - Training Courses - EN | PECB
Webinars: https://pecb.com/webinars
Article: https://pecb.com/article
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
For more information about PECB:
Website: https://pecb.com/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/pecb/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/PECBInternational/
Slideshare: http://www.slideshare.net/PECBCERTIFICATION
How to Make a Field Mandatory in Odoo 17Celine George
In Odoo, making a field required can be done through both Python code and XML views. When you set the required attribute to True in Python code, it makes the field required across all views where it's used. Conversely, when you set the required attribute in XML views, it makes the field required only in the context of that particular view.
Level 3 NCEA - NZ: A Nation In the Making 1872 - 1900 SML.pptHenry Hollis
The History of NZ 1870-1900.
Making of a Nation.
From the NZ Wars to Liberals,
Richard Seddon, George Grey,
Social Laboratory, New Zealand,
Confiscations, Kotahitanga, Kingitanga, Parliament, Suffrage, Repudiation, Economic Change, Agriculture, Gold Mining, Timber, Flax, Sheep, Dairying,
Leveraging Generative AI to Drive Nonprofit InnovationTechSoup
In this webinar, participants learned how to utilize Generative AI to streamline operations and elevate member engagement. Amazon Web Service experts provided a customer specific use cases and dived into low/no-code tools that are quick and easy to deploy through Amazon Web Service (AWS.)
Telemedicina "MULTIPURPOSE HEALTH CARE TELEMEDICINE SYSTEM"
1. Abstract- In this study we present a multipurpose health care
telemedicine system, which can be used for emergency or patient
monitoring cases. Ambulances, Rural Health Centers (RHC) or
other remote health location, Ships navigating in wide seas and
Airplanes in flight are common examples of possible emergency
sites, while critical care telemetry and telemedicine home follow-
ups are important issues of patient monitoring. The telemedicine
system is a combined real-time and store and forward facility
that consists of a base unit and a telemedicine (mobile) unit. The
telemedicine unit (patient site) allows the transmission of vital
biosignals (3-12 lead ECG, SPO2, NIBP, IBP, Temp) and still
images of the patient from the incident place to the base unit
(consultation site). The transmission is performed through GSM,
Satellite links or POTS. Using this device a specialist doctor can
telematically "move" to the patient site and instruct medical
personnel when handling a patient. The consultation site is
equipped with a multimedia database able to store and manage
the data collected by the system. The system was validated in
four different countries using a standardized medical protocol.
Keywords – Emergency Health Care Telemedicine, GSM,
Satellite, POTS
I. INTRODUCTION
The availability of prompt and expert medical care can
meaningfully improve health care services at understaffed
rural or remote areas. The provision of effective emergency
Telemedicine and home monitoring solutions are the major
fields of interest discussed in this study. There are a wide
variety of examples where those fields are crucial.
Nevertheless, Ambulances, Rural Health Centers (RHC) or
other remote health location, Ships navigating in wide seas
and Airplanes in flight are common examples of possible
emergency sites, while critical care telemetry and
Telemedicine home follow-ups are important issues of
telemonitoring. In emergency cases where immediate medical
treatment is the issue, recent studies conclude that early and
specialized pre-hospital patient management contributes to
the patient’s survival [1]. Especially in cases of serious head
injuries, spinal cord or internal organs trauma, the way the
incidents are treated and transported is crucial for the future
well being of the patients.
A quick look to past car accident statistics points out
clearly the issue: During 1997, 6753500 incidents were
reported in the United States [2] from which about 42000
people lost their lives, 2182660 drivers and 1125890
passengers were injured. In Europe during the same period
50000 people died resulting of car crash injuries and about
half a million were severely injured. Furthermore, studies
completed in 1997 in Greece [3], a country with the world’s
third highest death rate due to car crashes, show that 77,4 %
of the 2500 fatal injuries in accidents were injured far away
Fig 1. Overall system architecture
from any competent healthcare institution, thus resulting in
long response times. In addition, the same studies reported
that 66% of deceased people passed away during the first 24
hours.
Coronary artery diseases is another common example of
high death rates in emergency or home monitoring cases since
still two thirds of all patients die before reaching the central
hospital. In a study [4] in the UK in 1998, it is sobering to see
that among patient above 55 years old, who die from cardiac
arrest, 91% do so outside hospital, due to a lack of immediate
treatment. In cases where thrombolysis is required, survival is
related to the “call to needle” time, which should be less than
60 minutes [5]. Thus, time is the enemy in the acute treatment
of heart attack or sudden cardiac death (SCD).
Critical care telemetry is another case of handling
emergency situations. The main point is to monitor
continuously intensive care units’ (ICU) patients at a hospital
and at the same time to display all telemetry information to
the competent doctors anywhere, anytime[6]. Having a closer
look at the basic Telemedicine process nothing is changer
except from the fact that in this the doctor is the one remotely
located, while the emergency site is at a stable point (the
hospital).
Another important Telemedicine application field is home
monitoring. Recent studies show that [7] the number of
patients being managed at home is increasing, in an effort to
cut part of the high hospitalization’s cost, while trying to
increase patient’s comfort[7].
It is common knowledge that people that monitor patients
at home or are the first to handle emergency situations do not
always have the required advanced theoretical background
MULTIPURPOSE HEALTH CARE TELEMEDICINE SYSTEM
E. Kyriacou1
, S. Pavlopoulos1
, D. Koutsouris1
A. S. Andreou2
, C. Pattichis2
, C. Schizas2
1
Biomedical Engineering Laboratory, Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, NATIONAL TECHNICAL
UNIVERSITY OF ATHENS (NTUA), ATHENS, GREECE
2
Department of Computer Science, University of Cyprus, Cyprus
2. and experience to manage properly all cases. Emergency
Telemedicine and home monitoring can solve this problem by
enabling experienced neurosurgeons, cardiologists,
orthopedics and other skilled people to be virtually present in
the emergency medical site. This is done through
transmission of vital biosignals and on scene images of the
patient to the experienced doctor.
In order to meet the above different growing demands we
created a combined real-time and store and forward facility
that consists of a base unit and a telemedicine unit where this
integrated system:
• Handles emergency cases in ambulances, RHC or ships by
using the Telemedicine unit at the emergency site and the
expert’s medical consulting at the base unit
• Enhances intensive health care provision by giving the
telemedicine unit to the ICU doctor while the base unit is
incorporated with the ICU’s in-house telemetry system
• Enables home telemonitoring, by installing the
telemedicine unit at the patient’s home while the base unit
remains at the physician’s office or hospital.
The Telemedicine device is compliant with some of the
main vital signs monitor manufacturers like Critikon (Johnson
& Johnson) and Propaq. It is able to transmit both 3 and 12
lead ECGs, vital signs (non-invasive blood pressure,
temperature, heart rate, oxygen saturation and invasive blood
pressure) and still images of a patient by using a great variety
of communication means (Satellite, GSM and Plain Old
Telephony System - POTS). The base unit is comprised of a
set of user-friendly software modules that can receive data
from the Telemedicine device, transmit information back to it
and store all data in a database at the base unit. The
communication between the two parts is based on the TCP/IP
protocol.
II. METHODOLOGY
As mentioned above, scope of this study was to design
and implement an integrated Telemedicine system, able to
handle different Telemedicine needs. In other words we
determined an “all-weather” system consisting of two major
parts: a) a Telemedicine unit (which can be portable or not
portable depending on the case) and b) a base unit or doctor’s
unit (which can be portable or not portable depending on the
case and usually located at a Central Hospital). Fig 1
describes the overall system architecture.
The Telemedicine unit is responsible for collecting and
transmitting biosignals and still images of the patients from
the incident place to the Doctor's location while the Doctor's
unit is responsible for receiving and displaying incoming
data. The Doctor might be using the system either in an
Emergency case or when monitoring a patient from a remote
place.
The design and implementation of the system was based
on a detailed user requirements analysis, as well as the
corresponding system functional specifications. The study
was mainly based on the experience of Telemedicine projects
named AMBULANCE [8]and Emergency 112 [9]-[10],
where functional prototypes of a device with emergency
Telemedicine functionalities was built and extensively
evaluated. Through these projects we had phased the need to
implement an all-purpose telemedicine device.
The software design and implementation follows the
client server model; it was done using Borland Delphi 4 for
windows 95/98/NT platform; the Telemedicine unit site is the
client while the Base unit site is the server. Communication
between the two parts is achieved using TCP/IP as network
protocol, which ensures safe data transmission and
interoperability over different telecommunication means
(GSM, Satellite, and POTS). System communications are
based on a predefined communication protocol for data
interchange, which is used to control and maintain connection
between the two sites, thus ensuring portability,
interoperability and security of the transmitted data.
a) Telemedicine Unit:
The Telemedicine unit mainly consists of four modules,
the biosignal acquisition module, which is responsible for
biosignals acquisition, a digital camera responsible for image
capturing, a processing unit, which is basically a Personal
Computer, and a communication module (GSM, Satellite or
POTS modem).
The biosignal acquisition module was designed to operate
with some of the most common portable biosignal monitors
used in emergency cases or in Intensive care Units such as a)
CRITIKON DINAMAP PLUS Monitor Model 8700/9700
family of monitors, b) PROTOCOL Propaq 1xx Vital Signs
Monitor, c) PROTOCOL Propaq Encore 2xx Vital Signs
Monitor.
The biosignals collected by the patient (and then
transmitted to the Base Unit) are: ECG up to 12 lead,
depending on the monitor used, Oxygen Saturation (SpO2),
Heart Rate (HR), Non-Invasive Blood Pressure (NIBP),
Invasive blood Pressure (IP), Temperature (Temp),
Respiration (Resp).
The PC used depends on the type of the Telemedicine
application (role of the Telemedicine unit). a) in cases where
the autonomy and small size of the system are important
(mainly in ambulances), a sub notebook like Toshiba libretto
100ct portable PC is used. b) in cases where we need some
autonomy but size is not considered an important element a
Typical Pentium portable PC is used and c) in cases where we
do not necessarily need autonomy, portability and small
system size, a Typical Pentium Desktop PC is used.
As mentioned before, data interchange is done using the
TCP/IP network protocol, which allows operation over
several communication means. The PC is equipped with the
proper modem for each case, i.e. GSM, Satellite or POTS.
The design was done for standard Hayes modems. The system
supports ETSI - AT command set for GSM modem, for
Satellite modems and for Standard POTS modems. Several
modems types were used for testing: a) a NOKIA card phone
2.0 GSM 900/1800 modem pcmcia card and an Option
FirstFone GSM 900 modem pcmcia card were used for GSM
communication, b) a Micronet pcmcia POTS modem 56K and
a US-Robotics 33.6K external modem were used for POTS
communication,
3. Fig 2. Biosignal receiving window at Base
Unit
c) a mini m terminal for ships "Thrane &Thrane TT-3064A
CAPSAT Inmarsat Maritime Phone" was used for satellite
communication.
The Telemedicine unit is also responsible for the
collection and transmission of images of the patient to the
base unit. In order to implement a hardware independent
system, this module was designed to operate using video for
WINDOWS. Several cameras were used while testing the
system (ZOOM, Creative, Logitech, Samsung).
The control of the Telemedicine unit is fully automatic.
The only thing the telemedicine unit user has to do is connect
the biosignal monitor to the patient and turn on the PC. The
PC then performs the connection to the base unit
automatically. Although the base unit basically controls the
overall system operation, the Telemedicine unit user can also
execute a number of commands. This option is useful when
the system is used in a distance health center or in a ship and
a conversation between the two sites takes place.
b) Base Unit (or Doctor’s Unit):
The base unit mainly consists of a dedicated PC equipped
with a modem, which is responsible for data interchange. In
addition the base unit pc is responsible for displaying
incoming signals from the Telemedicine unit. When an expert
doctor uses the base unit located outside the hospital area
(like in the Intensive Care Room application – see Fig 1), a
portable PC equipped with a GSM modem or a desktop PC
equipped with a POTS modem is used. When the base unit is
located in the hospital, a desktop PC connected to the
Hospital Information Network (HIS) equipped with a POTS
modem can additionally be used; the expert doctor uses it as a
processing terminal.
Through the base unit, user has the full control of the
telemedicine session. The user is able to monitor the
connection with a client (telemedicine unit), send commands
to the telemedicine unit such as the operation mode
(biosignals or images).
In cases were the base station is connected to a Hospital
LAN, the user of the base unit is able to choose and connect
to anyone of the telemedicine units connected on the network.
Fig 3. Patient Information window, Hospital
database Unit
The units connected on the network can be ICU telemedicine
units or distance mobile telemedicine units connected through
phone lines.
The Base Unit's user can monitor biosignals or still
images coming from the Telemedicine unit, thus keeping a
continuous online communication with the patient site. This
unit has the full control of the Telemedicine session. The
doctor (user) can send all possible commands concerning both
still image transmission and biosignals transmission. Fig 2
presents a typical biosignal-receiving window (continuous
operation).
When the system operates on still image mode, the doctor
can draw-annotate on the image and send the annotations
back to the Telemedicine unit; the user can also annotate on
the freezed image and annotations will then again be
transferred to the Base unit.
When operating on biosignal mode (Fig 2), the
transmission of vital biosignals can be done in two ways,
continuous way or store and forward way, depending on the
ECG waveform channels which are transmitted and the
telecommunication channel data transfer rate. In continuous
operation, the Base Unit user can send commands to the
Telemedicine Unit monitor, such as lead change or blood
pressure determination; the user can also pause incoming
ECG, move it forward or backward and perform some
measurements on the waveform.
c) Hospital database Unit:
When the Base Unit is located in a hospital (especially in
emergency handling or in home telecare), a Hospital database
unit can be integrated in the system, in order to record
information concerning the cases handled. When the system
is used for emergency cases, predefined information for each
case are registered, information includes incident's number,
date, time, initial and final diagnosis, Telemedicine files etc.
This information is compliant to the directive “Standard
Guide for View of Emergency Medical Care in the
Computerized Patient Record” (designation E-1744-95) of the
American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM). When
the system is used in an Ambulance Emergency Medical
4. Service, the database unit is also responsible for accepting
and recording emergency calls, as well as managing
Ambulance vehicle fleet.
In cases where a Hospital Information System (HIS) is
already available at the Base Unit site (Hospital), the doctor
(Base Unit user) can retrieve information (using the hospital
archiving unit) concerning the patient's medical history.
When HIS is not available, the Hospital Database Unit can
handle the patient medical record by itself (Fig 3).
The database was designed using Paradox 7 and was
equipped with graphical user interface features built in
Borland Delphi 4 for increased user friendliness. All parts of
the database are in compatibility with Microsoft Windows
98/NT. For security reasons, according to the directive
95/46/EC, the database is fully protected against unauthorized
access and is password protected and encrypted, whereas the
whole application is password protected with several access
levels depending on user groups.
III. RESULTS
Implementation of the system has been completed. The
system has been demonstrated. All functions were tested,
including biosignal, image transfer and white boarding. Four
pilot sites in Greece, Italy, Sweden and Cyprus were
participating in the demonstration phase. Particularly the
demonstration phase was performed at the facilities of the
Athens Medical Center (Greece), the Malmo Ambulance
Services (Sweden), the Azienda Ospedaliera Pisa (Italy) and
Cyprus Ambulance Services (Cyprus). The demonstration
was performed on 100 (not severe) emergency cases for each
hospital. The results of this phase were very encouraging. The
system was able to improve, the percentage of incidents that
in an emergency case initial diagnosis did not matched final
diagnosis. For 100 cases without the system use, 13% of
initial diagnosis did not matched the final diagnosis, while in
100 case with the system use 8% of initial diagnosis did not
matched the final diagnosis.
IV. DISCUSSION
The final result is an “all-weather” Telemedicine system,
with a flexible architecture that can be adopted in several
different application fields. The system has been tested and
validated for a variety of medical devices and
telecommunication means. The system is currently installed
and being used in daily basis in two different countries,
Greece and Cyprus.
V. CONCLUSION
We have developed a medical device for telemedicine
applications. The device uses GSM mobile telephony links,
Satellite links or POTS links and allows the collection and
transmission of vital biosignals, still images of the patient and
bi-directional telepointing capability. The advance man-
machine interface enhances the system functionality by
allowing the users to operate in hands-free mode while
receiving data and communicating with specialists. Initial
results and conclusions are very promising. We intend to
improve the system by adding several other functions such as
the connection to other medical devices and the application in
other cases such as airplanes in flight or trains. Further work
is being carried out in integrating the system to hospital
HIS/PACS networks.
ACKNOWLEDGMENT
The general framework for the above system was
developed under EU funded TAP (Telematics Applications
Programme) projects. The Emergency-112 project (HC 4027)
and the Ambulance (HC1001). Partners in the projects were
ICCS-NTUA (project coordinator), Athens Medical Center,
Medical Diagnosis and Treatment, Panafon and Epsilon
Software from Greece, R&S Informatica and CPR/Pisa
Hospital from Italy, Eurotechnology and Malmo University
Hospital in Sweden, University of Cyprus and Nicosia
Hospital in Cyprus. We would like to express our
thankfulness to all participants in the project for their
significant contribution and fruitful collaboration.
REFERENCES
[1] “Guidelines For The Early Management Of Patient With
Myocardial Infarction”, BMJ, Vol 308, pp. 767-771, Mar 19,
1994.
[2] Cerreli Ezio C: “1997 Traffic Crashes Injuries And
Fatalities, Preliminary Report”, National Highway Traffic
Safety Administration, U.S. Dept of transportation, 1997.
[3] Hellenic National Statistics Service, 1997 Report.
[4] T Evans: “Cardiac Arrests Outside Hospital”, BMJ, Vol
316, pp1031-132, Apr 4, 1998.
[5] David A Sandler: “Call to Needle Times After Acute
Myocardial Infarction”, BMJ, Vol 318, pp1553, Jun 5, 1999.
[6] S Barro, J Presedo, D Castro, M Fernandez-Delgado, S
Fraga, M Lama, J Vila: “Intelligent Telemonitoring of Critical
Care Patients”, IEEE EMB Mag, Vol 18, No 4, pp 80-88,
Jul/Aug 1999.
[7] Strode S, Gustke S, Allen A,: “Technical and Clinical
Progress in Telemedicine”, Journal of American Medical
Association, 1999;281:1066-1068.
[8] S. Pavlopoulos, E. Kyriakou, A. Berler, S Dembeyiotis, D
Koutsouris: “A Novel Emergency Telemedicine System
Based on Wireless Communication Technology –
AMBULANCE”, IEEE Trans. Inform. Tech. Biomed. -
Special Issue on Emerging Health Telematics Applications in
Europe, Vol 2, No 4, pp 261-267, 1998.
[9] E. Kyriacou, S. Pavlopoulos, A. Bourka, A. Berler, D.
Koutsouris: “Telemedicine in Emergency Care”, Proceedings
of the VI International Conference on Medical Physics,
Patras 99, Patra, Greece, September 1999.
[10] Antoniades, C., Kouppis, A., Pavlopoulos, S., Kyriakou,
E., Kyprianou, A., Andreou, A.S., Pattichis, C. and Schizas,
C., "A Novel Telemedicine System for the Handling of
Emergency Cases". Proceedings of the 5th World Conference
on Injury Prevention and Control, World Health
Organisation (WHO), New Delhi, India, 2000.