Healthcare: Using videoconferencing and telepresence solutions for telemedicine applications.

In today’s healthcare environment, clinicians are increasingly finding themselves having to do more with less.

With the devolution and regionalisation of the NHS, and commissioning to be carried out by GPs, there is an increasing reliance on time- and money-saving technology which can also improve patient care.

Use of technology such as digital medical devices and the increased reliance on home-based care, are leading towards the use of video-based communication tools as the glue holding the rest of the services together.

We understand the use of clinical devices and their integration into the meeting experience, so you can be assured that PACS, digital microscopy and other devices will all be shown in their native quality on DICOM calibrated displays.

First Connections has a wealth of experience delivering quality services into the National Health Service, from full audiovisual integration in Multidisciplinary Team (MDT) rooms to deployment of desktop video solutions with core infrastructure across Community of Interest Networks (COIN).

We have worked with clinical specialities such as cancer, stroke, neonatal, burns, podiatry, physiotherapy and mental health – the possibilities are endless.

Our expertise in delivering video services across data networks has made us TANDBERG’s partner of choice and largest healthcare partner in England in 2009. We understand the N3 network and are happy to make our expertise available to our customers in order to deliver an effective service, and improvement to patient outcome.

First Connections is a founding member of the Telemedicine Network, providing discussion groups and a single point of contact for anyone interested in successful deployment of telemedicine solutions. Our aim is to provide examples of how people have already implemented this technology and to assist those who have an interest in its applications.

As a Network, we intend to raise the general knowledge level of healthcare professionals so that decisions on telemedicine technology implementations are based on real world scenarios.

Our founding members' experience is available to all interested qualified parties.

There is a knowledge base throughout the NHS of clinicians of all disciplines who are successfully using telemedicine to improve the quality of patient care, and we provide discussion groups and forums so that questions can be answered and advice offered by people who have done what you are trying to do, and have done it effectively.

We aim to offer any advice in a vendor-independent manner, as each potential user has their own specific requirement. This is not to say that no member has their own opinion on any specific technology or vendor however!

Please visit us at The Telemedicine Network

Also see the article on Saving Lives with Videoconferening

Telemedicine in the NHS using video conferencing

BBC News Health Check: Technology links doctors to patients

Telemedicine Survey looking at remote monitoring of healthcare in the home

The NHS QIPP agenda includes the use of technologies such as videoconferencing