engleski

Telemedicine as an efficcient tool for the Emergency Service in rural areas of middle and south Dalmatia

telemedicine has been defined as the use of the telecommunication technology for providing medical information and services when the participants are separated by distance, not only in some remote areas where helth care access is troublesome but also in urban locations. Basically there have been at least two different kings of tehnology. The first, called store and forward, is used for transmitting digital images from one location to another. This type of technology is typically used for non-emergent situations, when a diagnosis or consultation may be made within a few hours and sent back. The second type of telemedicine, which has already been widely used, is a two-way interactive television. This type of consultation may be used when a "face to face" consultation is necessary. It is usually between the patient, its provider and a specialist, but may be any combination of the three. According to the cost-benefit analysis, the telemedicine system is very cost effective. Sam situation in which telemedicine will be useful are: when a patient does not have an easy access to a hospital, when a physician has a limited access to a patient, and when emergency care is needed. The first benefit of telemedicine is the possibility to level out regional differences (we will be able to improve a specialists medical care in the regions that are not so easily accessible and where the existing medical facilities are not equipped to provide it. Medical care can be extended to rural areas and islands as well, in which medical technology has been limited so far. The second benefit of telemedicine is the improved efficiency of medical care. In order to improve efficiency of medical care in remote areas we have alredy accomplished some activities not only for the purpose of making consultations between physicians but also for educational and training purposes. The third benefit is improved service for patients. Patients would be able to recive a doctor's visit in the confort of their own home. The forth benefit is that physicians will have great opportunities to provide madical care to the patients in the places where medical care is not otherwisw accessible(hospital and an outpatient facility). In addition, it is a very effective method of international medical cooperation. Video consultations from a rural clinic to a specialist can alleviate prohibitive travel and associated costs for patients. Videoconferencing also opens up new possibilities for continuing education or training of isolated or rural health practioners, who may not be able to leave a rural practice to take part in some professional meetings or in educational courses. Home helth care is another booming area of telemedicine. Conclusion: According to our initial experience and results from numerous studies from abroad, we can conclude that telemedicine technology will become very useful tool for giving better medical care to our patients. It is easily apliccable to effective, and could raise the medical standards to the higher level. Educational and training programs can be more efficient and premeditated by using telemedicine technology. By using telemedicine technology we will be able to give proper medical care for everyone, and to select those patients who ought to be admitted to the hospital.

Telemedicine; emergency service; rural areas

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