Deploying portable ultrasonography with remote assistance for isolated physicians in Africa: lessons from a pilot study in Mali.
OBJECTIVE
Demonstrate the feasibility of deploying portable ultrasonography with remote assistance to improve the diagnostic capabilities of isolated physicians in Africa.


METHODS
The approach is based on the training of general practitioners for the use of ultrasonography, and the remote support by radiologists using dedicated tools for image transfer over low-bandwidth internet connections.


RESULTS
Our early results in a pilot project in Mali show that this approach is feasible, and that isolated physicians can productively use ultrasonography to improve diagnosis and management decisions such as the need for a medical evacuation towards a reference hospital.


CONCLUSIONS
These encouraging early results must be confirmed by larger-scale studies, in order to better understand the organizational requirements and demonstrate outcomes and return on investments for such telemedicine services. This scale-up project will start in 2010 in collaboration with the International Development Research Center of Canada.
Bagayoko
Cheick Oumar
CO
Department Radiology and Medical informatics, University Hospitals of Geneva, Switzerland. cheick-oumar.bagayoko@hcuge.ch
Niang
Mahamoudane
M
Traoré
Seydou T
ST
Bediang
Georges
G
Naef
Jean-Marc
JM
Geissbuhler
Antoine
A
D008302:Mali; D010865:Pilot Projects; D019114:Remote Consultation / Q000379:methods; D019035:Rural Health Services; D019112:Teleradiology / Q000379:methods*; D014463:Ultrasonography / Q000379:methods*