The experience of a rural general practitioner using videoconferencing for telemedicine.
A telemedicine link was installed between a mining town in Western Australia and clinical specialists in Perth, about 1800 km away. Standard commercial videoconferencing units connected by ISDN at 128 kbit/s were used. During a two-year period, 90 teleconsultations were carried out. About one-third of the injuries to mining construction workers were eye problems. In more than 75% of teleconsultations a patient transfer to Perth was avoided.
Bowater
M
M
Edgar Street Medical Centre, Port Hedland, WA 6158, Australia. westport@iinet.net.au
D000062:Accidents, Occupational; D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D016288:Computer Terminals; D003657:Decision Making; D005194:Family Practice / Q000458:organization & administration*; D006801:Humans; D019114:Remote Consultation / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000458:organization & administration*; D019035:Rural Health Services / Q000458:organization & administration; D014904:Western Australia; D014947:Wounds and Injuries / Q000628:therapy*