An Emergency Telemedicine System Based on Wireless Communication Technology: A Case Study

Telemedicine can be defined as the delivery of health care and sharing of medical knowledge over distance using telecommunication means. The aim of telemedicine is to provide expert-based health care to understaffed remote sites through modern telecommunication (wireless communications) and information technologies. 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 is the major field of interest of this Chapter. During emergency cases such as coronary artery diseases and cardiac arrests, survival of patients is related to the “call to needle” time, where thrombolysis might require in less than 60 minutes and has to be done during transportation to a main hospital. Furthermore in cases of serious injuries of the head, the spinal cord and internal organs the way of moving the patient from the accident scene and generally the way of providing care before and during transportation is crucial for the future of the patient. In order to support emergency telemedicine a portable medical device that allows telediagnosis, long distance support and teleconsultation of mobile health care providers by expert physicians has been created. The device is always located near the patient and allows the collection and transmission of vital biosignals and still images of the patient to a consultation site which is located at a main hospital where the expert doctors are. The transmition is performed through wireless communications GSM and GPRS mobile telephony networks, Satellite networks or wired communications where available. The device can telematically “bring” an expert specialist doctor at the site of the medical emergency; thus allowing him evaluate patient status and direct emergency personnel on treatment procedures until the patient is brought to hospital. All data collected through the system are stored and managed using a multimedia database located at the consultation site.