Armenian Telemedicine pilot launched

The Armenian Association of Telemedicine (AATM) has launched its latest  short telemedicine project.

The project aims to create a telemedicine connection between a primary health care facility in Stepanakert, Nagorno-Karabakh Republic (NKR), and AATM central office, Yerevan, Armenia.

Endorsed by the Government of NKR and conducted in association with the Union of Information Technology Enterprises of Armenia (UITE) and telemedicine R&D company Symotec LLC, the project is the second of this kind in Armenia.

It follows the establishment and successful exploitation of the demonstrational telemedicine model within the framework of USAID-funded project titled "Capacity Building of the Armenian Association of Telemedicine to Result in Improved Primary Health Care Services in Armenia", in April-June, 2010.

The telemedicine system will consist of two PC-based stations: the referral station at a primary care unit in Stepanaker, the capital city of the Nagorno-Karabakh Republic, and the consult station at the AATM’s central office in downtown Yerevan.

Both sites will be equipped with simple video-conferencing devices and commercially available medical peripherals, connected via high-speed internet providing a minimum of 2 Mbps of bandwidth.

The referral site will be equipped with a set of medical digital devices, including: 5-parameter vital sign monitor (BP, HR, SaO2, 3-lead ECG, and body temperature); digital stethoscope with Bluetooth connectivity and tele-auscultation software. They will also have standard 10-MP, 10-optical zoom digital still camera; an ultrasound scanner with ultrasound digitizing and sharing software, and a digital ophthalmoscope.

For telemedicine encounter management the system will utilize a dedicated server and database capabilities provided by the organisers.

The system will operate throughout one week, from 29 November, 3 December, 2010. During this period tele-consultations will be delivered in cardiology, dermatology, ophtalmology, and ultrasonography, and patients presenting to the referral site will be examined and consulted by leading specialists in Armenia.

The pilot project is intended to become the first step in a larger initiative of telehealth network establishment in Nagorno-Karabakh, which is planned to commence next year.

For further information on the Association, its vision, mission and objectives, news, programs, and membership, visit http://www.armtelemed.org.