Low-cost teledermatology using Internet image transmission

beassessedusingthesamecomputertechnologiesthat deliver the information. Rather dangerous bicycleandtreadmill testing, whichmust be accompaniedby aqualifiedanaesthetist inthe sameroom, canbe replacedwithcomputermediatedtestingat adistance. Biofeedbackmaybe integrated intotesting. Holter monitoring is twiceas effective in detecting ischaemiathanphysical exercise tests, andsothe proposedmethodshouldbe efficient. Rural andunder-served groups worldwidewill benefit frommultilateral collaboration intheproposedproject touse multimedia technologies for just-in-timetelemedicine, telecare, trainingandeducation. Theutilityandeffectiveness of suchtechnologies, along withthe money savedintransportationandlodgingcosts, warrant serious consideration, because eveninSt Petersburg life expectancyhas beendecliningas a consequenceof arteriosclerosis. Not onlyanaesthetistsbut alsotreadmillsand bicycles are absent inmanyrural areas throughout thenew independent states andthe developingworldingeneral, so theproposedtechniques maybethe onlyones possible for mass screening. Healthorganizations andagencies at every level worldwide will be able toinitiateplans touse the proposedtechnologies intheir dailyoperations as well as whenthey interact withtheir constituencies andother agencies globally. Thus there is a needtodevelopa pilot project tochallenge arteriosclerosis. Thepurposeof theproject is todemonstrate the useof interactive desktopvideoanddocument conferencingas a means of implementinghealthpromotion, telemedicine and telecare strategies. The project will alsohelpimplement the WorldHealthOrganization’s recommendations to improve healthprogrammes at the international, national, stateor provinceandlocal levels andtherecommendations of the International Societyof Cardiologythat non-governmental andcommunity development organizations be involvedin arteriosclerosispreventionfirstofall.Theserecommendations will serveas guidelines for developingandimprovinghealth programmes throughout theworld. Document andvideoconferencingwill alsounderminefunctional illiteracy, which is theone of major risk factors inarteriosclerosis.