Journal of Telemedicine and Telecare > Volume 15, Number 3 > Pp. 132-134

This Article Full Text Full Text (PDF) Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Services Email this article to a friend Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Citing Articles Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Keane, M. G. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Social Bookmarking                      What's this?

PAPERS

A review of the role of telemedicine in the accident and emergency department

Margaret Geraldine Keane 

Kent and Canterbury Hospital, Canterbury, UK

Correspondence: Dr MG Keane, Accident and Emergency Department, Kent and Canterbury Hospital, Ethelbert Road, Canterbury CT1 3NG, UK (Fax: +44 1227 766 877; Email: geri.keane{at}doctors.net.uk)

A literature search was conducted for articles on the role of telemedicine in accident and emergency work. The search yielded 39 relevant papers, which came from 21 independent groups that had used telemedicine in an emergency medicine setting. The articles showed that telemedicine has been applied in a variety of ways from medical advice for paramedics in the disaster setting, to patient follow-up in the fracture clinic. A variety of communications equipment has been tried, including radio links, telephone, email and mobile wireless videoconferencing devices. All such links have been found to transfer information effectively, but success has sometimes been limited by technical failure and by staff lacking confidence in using the systems. Telemedicine has been used widely to support emergency nurse practitioners in minor injury units. Telemedicine has also been suggested as a way for paramedics to communicate with regional coronary care units quickly, hence enabling them to provide pre-hospital thrombolysis in the field when appropriate. The accident and emergency setting is well suited to the application of telemedicine. Larger trials and cost-effectiveness studies are required in this area.

CiteULike    Complore    Connotea    Del.icio.us    Digg    Reddit    Technorati    What's this?