MERMAID 1996--report on the implementation of a European Project on "medical emergency aid through telematics".
MERMAID is a project that intends to provide multilingual medical emergency services to seaborne vessels around the world. MERMAID uses two-way transmission of live images in marine medical teleconsultation, greatly improving services that up to now depended on short-wave and VHF radio alone. Transmission of high resolution still pictures is also possible, so that the teleconsulting physician may closely (visually) examine his patient, along with transmission of biological signals and patient anamnesis details. Telemedical interventions are critically dependent on local paramedics. Merchant marine officers are trained in first-aid procedures and basic medical transactions. In practice, however, this training is often inadequate. For this reason MERMAID uses a multimedia medical guide that covers the absolutely necessary basics to handle medical emergencies and common medical problems on board. This application is based on the WHO "Medical guide for ships" and EU Council Directive 92/29. The delivery of medical and mental health care to distant populations has never been easy. In addition, the progress of technology has widened the disparity between the quality of care available to the urban citizen and that available to the rural or remote location resident. The only viable solution to the problem seems to come from telecommunications technologies. Indeed, ISDN is the first widely available public network that supports integrated services and can serve as a reliable backbone for telemedical services. Communications satellites provide a means of expanding ISDN network to geographically remote locations. Against this background, MERMAID combines mobile satellite technologies, VSAT technologies and ISDN protocols in order to realise a Global Telemedicine System that is reliable, exhibits, continuity, is seamlessly connected, has low cost and is downward compatible.
Anogianakis
G
G
BIOTRAST s.a., Thessaloniki, Greece. biotrast@biotrast.techpath.gr
Maglavera
S
S
D003195:Computer Communication Networks; D004632:Emergency Medical Services; D005060:Europe; D005392:First Aid; D006801:Humans; D009326:Naval Medicine; D019114:Remote Consultation / Q000379:methods*; D014584:User-Computer Interface