User's perceptions of remote trauma telesonography.
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.
Al-Kadi
Azzam
A
Regional Trauma Services, Foothills Medical Centre, 1403 29 Street NW, Calgary, Alberta T2 N 2T9, Canada.
Dyer
Dianne
D
Ball
Chad G
CG
McBeth
Paul B
PB
Hall
Robert
R
Lan
Steve
S
Gauthier
Chuck
C
Boyd
Jeff
J
Cusden
Jane
J
Turner
Christopher
C
Hamilton
Douglas R
DR
Kirkpatrick
Andrew W
AW
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