Telemedicine and pediatric radiology: a new environment for training, learning, and interactive discussions.
OBJECTIVE
To report the experience of the Brazilian Program of Pediatric Teleradiology in combining teleconferencing and a virtual learning environment for services integration, collaborative research, and continuing education in pediatric radiology.


METHODS
We performed virtual meetings from March 2005 to October 2010 on pediatric radiology-related themes, using a combination of videoconferences and Web conferences, which were recorded and made available in an open-source software (Moodle) for reuse.


RESULTS
We performed 58 virtual sessions: 29 anatomical-clinical-radiological sessions, 28 on upgrading themes, and 1 virtual symposium. The average of connected points was 12 by videoconference and 39 by Web conference, and of 450 participants per event. At the time of this writing, 318 physicians and students are registered in the virtual learning environment, with a total of 14,678 accesses.


CONCLUSIONS
Telemedicine is being included in pediatric radiology practice, as a means for distance education, training, and continuing integration between groups.
Department of Radiology, State University of Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil. monteiroamv@gmail.com
Alexandra M V
AM
Monteiro
Diogo Goulart
DG
Corrêa
Alair Augusto Sarmet M D
AA
Santos
Silvio A
SA
Cavalcanti
Telma
T
Sakuno
Tereza
T
Filgueiras
Eduardo
E
Just
Munique
M
Santos
Luiz Ary
LA
Messina
Ana Estela
AE
Haddad
Edson
E
Marchiori
D001938:Brazil; D002983:Clinical Competence; D003142:Communication; D005240:Feasibility Studies; D006801:Humans; D020407:Internet; D007858:Learning; D010372:Pediatrics / Q000193:education* / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000639:trends; D011871:Radiology / Q000193:education* / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000639:trends; D013663:Teaching / Q000379:methods*; D013685:Telecommunications / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000639:trends; D017216:Telemedicine / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000639:trends; D014584:User-Computer Interface