By Natasha Lomas, 16 July 2008 17:07
A Cisco TelePresence videoconferencing screen built into the station allows doctors and patients to come face-to-face for virtual consultations.
Marsolier said the high quality videoconferencing experience provided by TelePresence - while more expensive and bandwidth-heavy than webcam alternatives, such as this one developed by Telefonica - has the benefit of making the patient feel as if they are having a face-to-face encounter with a doctor.
She said the equipment could be installed in shopping centres to make access to healthcare facilities more convenient for people, or in remote locations where doctors are scarce. Marsolier added that telehealth equipment, which links doctors with patients across various locations, will become increasingly important in future as medical personnel shortages worsen.
While the telehealth station does need a trained operator to assist patients, that person does not need to be a clinician and could operate more than one station. She added that patients with chronic diseases could also be trained to use the equipment to monitor themselves.
Photo credit: Natasha Lomas
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