title: Telemedicine on a small island.
abstract: Information on the health status of the population of a small Greek island was collected. The information consisted of personal data, clinical history, physical examination, blood pressure evaluation, electrocardiography, and ultrasound scans of neck, breast and abdomen. Ninety-six per cent of the entire island population (280 inhabitants) participated in the study. Two per cent were at risk of serious complications of pathological disease and were immediately referred to a regional hospital for adequate care while 25% had minor pathological problems. Our experience suggests that health-care workers on small islands should be trained in the use of technology as a means of communication with mainland hospitals.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Pisa University, Italy. r.balestri@dc.med.unipi.it
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Balestri
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Cavina
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Aliferis
authors.forename: O
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Goletti
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Rocci
authors.forename: P V
authors.initials: PV
authors.lastname: Lippolis
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Zocco
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Franceschi
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Cotrozzi
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Economou
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Christofidis
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004562:Electrocardiography; D005260:Female; D006115:Greece; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D019035:Rural Health Services / Q000458:organization & administration*; D017216:Telemedicine / Q000379:methods*; D014463:Ultrasonography