DFP10%ALBNYDH2.BITNET@uacsc2.albany.edu (Donald F. Parsons MD) (03/30/91)
Preliminary Announcement from The New York Academy of Sciences:
A CONFERENCE ON EXTENDED CLINICAL CONSULTING BY HOSPITAL COMPUTER NETWORKS
Spring, 1992. Cambridge, MA Moderator: Donald F. Parsons MD
In recent years there has been a serious and continuing decline
in the number of operating rural health facilities and in the
availability of acute care in rural hospitals. This situation has
contributed significantly to rural economic decline and the rising
cost of health care in USA. Increasingly, patients have the extra
expense of travelling to distant large medical centers for treatment.
A partial reparation of the situation can be achieved by computer
networking between consultants at large medical centers and rural
hospitals and physicians. Xrays or other medical images necessary for
the consultation can be transmitted over ordinary phone lines in a few
minutes, using new data compression algorithms and error-correcting
modems. A diagnosis, or patient-stabilization information can be
phoned, faxed or e-mailed back to the rural center in a short time.
Chronic treatments that require repeated consultant control (such as
chemotherapy) can be handled in the same way. The patient is able to
stay at the home site for such treatment. Phone/fax consultant-access
systems using dedicated switchboards, are already working well in
several states (e.g., Alabama, Tennessee and Georgia). These states
are attempting enhancement by addition of digital text and image
transmission capability.
The identification of preferred technical approaches to such
computerized networking is a main objective of this Conference. We
will review medical computer networks already operating, both in USA
and elsewhere, and discuss new possibilities. This Conference is the
first comprehensive discussion of this question. It is badly needed
since communication between experimenting groups has been at a
minimum, and the need for such systems has received little attention
by granting agencies and legislators. Only recently, has a BITNET
discussion group (HSPNET-L@albnydh2) on this subject become available.
Apart from the technology and design of such hospital computer
networks (including the place of local bulletin boards, landlines,
satellite and packet-radio links), we will address many related
issues: medical staff attitudes and training in use of computers,
types of patient data packages, confidentiality of data, legal issues,
etc. We will also address a variety of applications: high-definition
TV, teleradiology, telepathology, fetal monitoring, accreditation/
education programs, access to literature searches in rural areas,
improvement of disease notification, exchange of state and federal
medical advisories, and disaster and trauma management.
Hopefully, this Conference will serve to focus and catalyze the
use of modern medical informatics principles for the improvement of
the quality of health-care delivery.
For further information contact:
The New York Academy of Sciences, 2 East 63rd Street, New
York, NY 10021. (212) 838-0230. Fax: (212) 888-2894, or:
The INTER-HOSPITAL & PHYSICIAN CONSULTATION NETWORKS
DISCUSSION GROUP (HSPNET-L@ALBNYDH2.BITNET).
Owner and Moderator: Donald F. Parsons MD, PhD, DSc.
Wadsworth Center, Room C200, New York State Department of Health,
Empire State Plaza, Albany, NY 12201-0509. Tel: (518)474-7047;
Fax: (518)474-8590. E-mail to moderator: BITNET dfp10@albnydh2;
Internet dfp10@uacsc2.albany.edu; UseNet dfp10@leah.albany.edu;
Compuserve 71777,212
Address for Discussion Contributions, Subscription and Listserv
Fileserver: HSPNET-L@ALBNYDH2.BITNET or mail to moderator.