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Telemedicine: New research and technology

January 23, 2002

Among the potential stories at the Royal Society of Medicine's Telemed '02 (29-30 January):

Telemedicine: why the UK delay?
Mr Robert Harrison & colleagues, Royal Free, London- The implementation of telemedicine: problems for research strategies and methodologies
Why do so few telemedicine projects the UK survive beyond their trial phase? Mr Harrison will present some possible answers, including the possibility that many new technologies challenge the traditional "clinical rituals" of doctors' surgeries and hospital wards. He will give his recommendations for change, and suggest some "do's" and "don'ts" for anyone trying to introduce telemedicine into a traditional setting.

New research shows better outcome for tele-patients in remote Australia
Dr Russell D'Souza, Broken Hill Base Hospital, NSW Australia- Telehealth in improving treatment adhereence and longitudinal outcomes in patients with a serious mental illness
Dr D'Sousz's case control study of patients with serious mental illness compared a group treated via video-conferencing with patients who received a conventional post-discharge programme .He will report on the results, which showed that the tele-health group were significantly more likely to keep to their treatment regime, had fewer problems with their medication, were less likely to relapse and expressed more satisfaction with their treatment.

New study suggests telehypnosis can be better than the 'real life' version
Susan Simpson, Royal Cornhill Hospital, Aberdeen- Telehypnosis: the provision of specialised therapeutic treatments via teleconferencing
Hypnosis can help with treatment of a range of problems from chronic pain to eating disorders. If you live in a remote area, however, it can be difficult to find a suitably qualified therapist. Clinical psychologist Susan Simpson will suggest a possible solution, based on the results of her pilot study of patients in Shetland who she treated using teleconferencing. More than a third actually preferred telehypnosis over face-to-face therapy, and all said they would like further sessions.

How Lithuanian technology could help patients with severe disabilities
Dr V Lauruska, Siauliai, Lithuania- Teleconsulting, communications and distant learning system for persons with disabilitites
Telemedicine has great potential for people with severe disabilities, but only if technology is properly adapted for them, Mr Lauruska will point out. He will be reporting on a Lithuanian project to design an alternative computer-based communication system for various types of disability, enabling patients themselves to use text messaging, email and eventually videoconferencing to participate in distant learning and teleconsulting.

Telemedicine in the service of peace
Dr Danny Shanit, Peres Center for Peace, Israel- Peace in sight
As tension runs high in the Middle East, Dr Shanit will show film a virtual network which he believes shows that telemedicine has "a unique role as a medium for peace-building". The Middle East Ophthalmology Network links experts in five countries to share knowledge and skills, even out the distribution of medical resources and expertise, and keep co-operation and collaboration going despite the political tensions of the area.

Digital TV, 'memory' pagers and the internet could keep the elderly healthy
Dr JG Barlow & colleagues, University of Sussex - Telecare in planning and implementation
New technology may help elderly patients to stay out of hospital or residential care and maintain their independence, suggests Dr Barlow. His team will report on the preliminary findings of their telecare research project, due for completion in 2003. Many technological options are emerging, including sensors which transmit health data to carers and digital TV to bring patients and carers into closer contact. The project will look at ways of bringing this telecare into mainstream service delivery.

Royal Society of Medicine