title: A simple telemedicine system to provide second-opinion advice to the patients of an Albanian diagnostic centre.
abstract: Since August 2003, the IKEDA Klinika diagnostic centre in Tirana, Albania, has offered patients telemedical help from Greece. The teleconsultation service is based on Internet technologies adapted to telemedical use, including the use of forms (e.g. for the patient history), multimedia file exchanges (e.g. for radiographs and electroencephalograms) and videoconferencing. The teleconsultants assist in treatment planning and, when necessary, in organizing the transfer of patients to Greece. The four cornerstones of the service are: the provision of second opinions by telemedicine; assistance in treatment planning; assistance to patients during transfer; and the continuity of medical care on their repatriation. Based on the first six months of operation, we estimate that, if bureaucratic visa restrictions to patient movement between Albania and Greece are removed, more than 2000 patients per year will benefit from the service and more than 400 patients will be transferred to Greek hospitals for treatment.
authors.affiliation: Department of Physiology, Faculty of Medicine, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Thessaloniki, Greece. anogian@auth.gr
authors.forename: George
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Anogianakis
authors.forename: George
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Ilonidis
authors.forename: Antonia
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Anogeianaki
authors.forename: Spyros
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Miliaras
authors.forename: John
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Lianguris
authors.forename: Kyriakos
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Katsaros
authors.forename: Dimitra
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Pseftogianni
authors.forename: Ibro
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Mustafa
mesh_terms: D000415:Albania; D006115:Greece; D006801:Humans; D007391:International Cooperation; D012017:Referral and Consultation / Q000458:organization & administration*; D019114:Remote Consultation / Q000458:organization & administration*; D019112:Teleradiology / Q000458:organization & administration