Telemedicine--the way ahead for medicine in the developing world.
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Date
2003-02-05
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Abstract
An e mail link with the facility to send high resolution digital images is a cheap and uncomplicated telemedicine method The Swinfen Charitable Trust helped establish such a link in Patan Hospital Kathmandu Nepal in March 2000 Over 12 months using this link 42 telemedicine referrals were sent to specialists throughout the world Referrals were 36 respiratory medicine 21 neurology 21 dermatology 14 cardiology 5 nephrology and 3 radiology 28 had digital pictures attached of which 96 were of high enough quality on which specialists were able to comment Thirty nine replies were received The average time for a specialist reply was 2 days and 45 were answered within 24 hours All replies were judged by independent assessors to be helpful or very helpful for diagnosis management and education The assessors decided that in 50 of cases the advice if acted upon would have shortened hospital stay This pilot study has shown that a low cost telemedicine link is technically feasible and can be of significant benefit for diagnosis management and education in a developing world setting