[Telemedicine and interventional cardiology].
Telemedicine is the use of telecommunications in medicine. Its aim is to "facilitate equal access to quality health care for all and everywhere". This exchange of information and experience with the transfer of know-how and knowledge has promoted three poles of development: interactive interdepartemental reunions ("telestaff meetings") for discussion of difficult cases and elaboration of common protocols: multisite continuous medical education and, finally, referral by teleconsultation using medical imaging, in the context of a decisional aid as to the necessity of transfer of a patient to a specialised hospital centre. In the latter context, a close collaboration has been established since 1996 between the regional hospital of Rodez in the Aveyron region and the University Hospital of Toulouse for cases of coronary artery disease and/or valvular heart disease. The coronary angiogrammes are sent by a digitized network at a high speed of 384 Kbits/sec, providing a quality of dynamic imaging which is adequate for validating a therapeutic decision. The patient is therefore at the centre of a network of heath care, the object of which is optimal diagnosis and management. The time dimension (duration of the teleconsultation) replaces the space dimension (distance that the patient has to go) and the teams involved progressively approach the concept of proximity, accessibility of the "hospital without walls" for specific and personalized management of each individual.
Carrie
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Cardiologie B, hôpital Rangueil, 1, avenue Jean-Poulhès, 31403 Toulouse.
D002309:Cardiology / Q000379:methods*; D005602:France; D006801:Humans; D017216:Telemedicine