title: User's perceptions of remote trauma telesonography.
abstract: We established a pilot tele-ultrasound system between a rural referring hospital and a tertiary care trauma centre to facilitate telementoring during acute trauma resuscitations. Over a 12-month period, 23 tele-ultrasound examinations were completed. The clinical protocol examined both the Focused Assessment with Sonography for Trauma (FAST) and the Extended FAST (EFAST) for pneumothoraxes. Twenty of the examinations were conducted during acute trauma resuscitations and three during live patient simulations. FAST examinations were completed in all 23 cases and EFAST examinations in 17 cases. There were 18 clinical users, of whom 14 completed a survey (76% response rate). Overall, 93% of respondents were either satisfied or very satisfied with the telemedicine interaction and agreed or strongly agreed that the technology could potentially benefit injured patients in the far north of Canada. In addition, 93% of the respondents felt that the project had improved collegiality between the two institutions involved. The majority of respondents (71%) agreed or strongly agreed that the project had improved their ultrasound skills. We believe that as further experience is obtained, tele-ultrasound will prove to be an important aid to the care of remotely injured and ill patients.
authors: Regional Trauma Services, Foothills Medical Centre, 1403 29 Street NW, Calgary, Alberta T2 N 2T9, Canada.
authors: Azzam
authors: A
authors: Al-Kadi
authors: Dianne
authors: D
authors: Dyer
authors: Chad G
authors: CG
authors: Ball
authors: Paul B
authors: PB
authors: McBeth
authors: Robert
authors: R
authors: Hall
authors: Steve
authors: S
authors: Lan
authors: Chuck
authors: C
authors: Gauthier
authors: Jeff
authors: J
authors: Boyd
authors: Jane
authors: J
authors: Cusden
authors: Christopher
authors: C
authors: Turner
authors: Douglas R
authors: DR
authors: Hamilton
authors: Andrew W
authors: AW
authors: Kirkpatrick
mesh_terms: D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D001955:British Columbia; D006801:Humans; D010465:Perception; D011030:Pneumothorax / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D019114:Remote Consultation; D012151:Resuscitation; D019035:Rural Health Services; D019112:Teleradiology; D014193:Trauma Centers; D014463:Ultrasonography / Q000295:instrumentation