Primera experiencia en telemedicina dentro de un programa nacional / First experience in telemedicine within a national program

El Programa Nacional de Cardiopatías Congénitas (PNCC) inició el Proyecto de telemedicina en Cardiopatías Congénitas (CC) en el 2015. Los principales objetivos son promover el asesoramiento para el diagnóstico cardiológico en la patología compleja del niño o del feto, promover el conocimiento de patologías complejas de baja prevalencia para su pesquisa precoz, acompañar el proceso de mejora continua en el diagnóstico de CC en hospitales de referencia provinciales y promover la docencia y la capacitación entre los distintos actores de la red. Las videoconferencias fueron el principal método de contacto. Las provincias que más participaron fueron Buenos Aires, Neuquén y Misiones; el 55% de las consultas correspondieron a pacientes portadores de CC, un 20% a embarazadas con diagnóstico fetal de CC, 14% de arritmias y 11% otros motivos. Se mostraron imágenes de ecocardiografía en la mayoría de las conexiones.En un 35% se modificaron conductas, evitando el traslado de pacientes en un 23%. Conclusión: La telemedicina en CC representa una alternativa que llega de modo más efectivo al médico a través de la consulta y respuesta a distancia, optimizando los diagnósticos y las derivaciones oportunas. Además, difunde el conocimiento entre los centros de baja a los de alta complejidad, disminuye las asimetrías en el diagnóstico para los pacientes del interior del país, evita el traslado innecesario de pacientes y afianza el trabajo en red. Se presenta como un modelo innovador para la réplica hacia otras especialidades.(AU)

In 2015, the Project of Telemedicine for Congenital Heart Defects (CHD) was initiated for the National Program of Congenital Heart Disease (NPCHD). The main aims are to provide counseling for the cardiology diagnosis in complex conditions in the child or the fetus, promote knowledge on complex diseases of low prevalence for early screening, accompany the process of continuous improvement in the diagnosis of CHD at provincial reference hospitals, and encourage teaching and training of the different participants in the network. Videoconferences were the main method of interaction. The provinces that participated the most were Buenos Aires, Neuquen, and Misiones; 55% of the consultations concerned patients with CHD, 20% pregnant women with a prenatal diagnosis of CHD, 14% arrhythmias, and 11% other reasons. Echocardiography images were shown in the majority of the contacts. In 35% behaviors were modified, avoiding the transfer of patients in 23%. Conclusion: In CHD, telemedicine is an alternative that reaches physicians more effectively through outreach consultation and response, optimizing timely diagnosis and referrals. In addition, this modality disseminates knowledge among low-level and high-level centers, reduces asymmetries in diagnosis for patients from the provinces, avoids unnecessary transfer of patients, and strengthens networking. This innovative modality may serve as a model for other specialties. (AU)

Patient-assisted teledermatology practice: What is it: When, where, and how it is applied.

Recent teledermatology practice has been focused on different models made possible by robust advances in information technology leading to consistent interaction between the patient and health care professionals. Patient-assisted teledermatology practice also called patient-enabled teledermatology or home based teledermatology is one such novel model. There is a lack of scientifi c literature and substantive reviews on patient-assisted teledermatology practice. The present article reviews several studies and surveys on patientassisted teledermatology practice and outlines its advantages and barriers to clinical utility and analyses the potentiality of this concept. Incorporating patient-assisted teledermatology practice as a novel model in the revised classifi cation of teledermatology practice is proposed. In patient-assisted teledermatology, the patient can upload his/her clinical images as a fi rst contact with the dermatologist or an initial face-to-face examination can be followed by teledermatology consultations. The latter method is well suited to chronic diseases such as psoriasis, vitiligo, and leg ulcers, which may need frequent follow-up entailing signifi cant costs and time, particularly in the elderly. Teledermatology may also be used by the treating dermatologist to seek expert opinion for diffi cult cases. Studies have demonstrated the importance and usability of the concept of patient-assisted teledermatology practice. Various teledermatology care models are available and the appropriate model should be chosen depending on whether the clinical situation is that of easily diagnosed cases (“spotters”), chronic cases or doubtful cases and difficult-to-manage cases.

Plataforma colaborativa multimídia para apoio ao diagnóstico de lesões bucais em ambientes de teleodontologia / Collaborative multimedia platform to support oral diagnosis in teledentistry environments

Este artigo tem por objetivo apresentar uma solução tecnológica desenvolvida para permitir atividades colaborativas de diagnóstico de lesões bucais em ambientes de Teleodontologia. Trata-se de uma plataforma totalmente baseada na web e que permite o gerenciamento e compartilhamento de imagens clínicas, radiográficas e histopatológicas, dispensando a instalação de qualquer programa adicional no computador do usuário. Como suporte à colaboração através do navegador, as ações efetuadas por um usuário são replicadas e visíveis ao outro usuário conectado, sendo possível a discussão e troca de informações sobre o caso através de chat e/ou áudiovideoconferência. Ferramentas de Telessaúde podem ofereçe diferentes oportunidades para assistência e educação em Odontologia. Ao permitir a visualização de diferentes aspectos da doença do paciente, a solução aqui apresentada tem potencial para viabilizar: (1) a troca de informações entre profissionais de saúde atuantes em distintos níveis de assistência e (2) a tutoria, à distância, nos diferentes níveis de formação (graduação, pós-graduação e educação continuada) (AU).

This paper presents a technological solution developed to enabling collaborative activities in Teledentistry environments. This is a platform composed by a set of tools for the management and sharing of clinical, radio graphic and histopathologic images. The proposed solution is fully web-based, requiring only a web browser installed; it's not necessary to install any other software on the user's computer. As collaboration support, the actions performed by a user with mouse and keyboard are replicated and visible to the other connected user. This toolkit allows the discussion of disease via chat and/or videoconferen ing. Telehealth's tools offer opportunities for assistance and education in Dentistry. By allowing realtime viewing and discussion of different aspects of a disease this technological solution has potential to facilitate: (1) exchange of information between health professionals at different levels of assistance and (2) distance tutoring at different levels of training (undergraduate, postgraduate and continuing education) (AU).

Emerging Technologies for Telemedicine

This paper focuses on new technologies that are practically useful for telemedicine. Three representative systems are introduced: a Digital Video Transport System (DVTS), an H.323 compatible videoconferencing system, and Vidyo. Based on some of our experiences, we highlight the advantages and disadvantages of each technology, and point out technologies that are especially targeted at doctors and technicians, so that those interested in using similar technologies can make appropriate choices and achieve their own goals depending on their specific conditions.

Videoconferências: sistematização e experiências em telemedicina / Videoconferences: systematization and experiments in telemedicine

A telemedicina é definida como a troca de informações utilizando tecnologia de informação e de comunicação em saúde e a distância. Entre as diversas modalidades da telemedicina incluem-se as videoconferências, que permitem a integração em tempo real, recebendo e enviando áudio e vídeo de alta qualidade entre pontos distantes geograficamente. O objetivo deste trabalho é descrever, de maneira simplificada, os sistemas de videoconferências, destacando-se suas aplicações no contexto da telemedicina. Para a realização de videoconferências são necessários equipamentos que façam captura e reprodução de áudio e vídeo, e que tenham possibilidade de conexão com equipamentos similares, como microcomputadores e equipamentos dedicados. Os tipos de conexão para uma videoconferência são: via ISDN (integrated services digital network) ou via IP (internet protocol). A qualidade do áudio e do vídeo e a velocidade são críticas para o sucesso da videoconferência. Experiências internacionais na utilização de equipamentos de videoconferência, inclusive na radiologia e diagnóstico por imagem, já são uma realidade. No Brasil, relatos mostram iniciativas isoladas de telemedicina, em sua maioria incluindo redes universitárias. A videoconferência representa uma excelente ferramenta para a capacitação e atualização do profissional médico, além de proporcionar grande impacto nos custos do atendimento à população.

Telemedicine refers to the delivery of health care services over a distance. Videoconference is one of the different modalities of telemedicine, allowing real-time interaction. The present study is aimed at describing videoconference systems in a simplified way, focusing on their application in telemedicine. Videoconference involves the necessity of equipment for audio and video capture and reproduction, besides a communication link for connection with similar equipment through ISDN (integrated services digital network) or IP (internet protocol). Video and audio quality is essential for the success of a videoconference. Experiments using videoconferencing equipment in radiology and other fields of medicine are a reality at international level. In Brazil, reports account for some isolated initiatives in this field, most of them involving universities networks. Besides its remarkable impact on costs of medical care delivery for the population, videoconference represents an invaluable tool for physicians in their education and knowledge updating.