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Pediatric Informatics: Computer Applications in Child Health (Health ...

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280 C. Sable et al.<br />

computer for later review. The most rapidly grow<strong>in</strong>g example of asynchronous<br />

telemedic<strong>in</strong>e is <strong>in</strong> radiology picture archiv<strong>in</strong>g and communication systems (PACS). 4<br />

In a “live or real-time” model, both sender and receiver view data simultaneously.<br />

A common example of synchronous telemedic<strong>in</strong>e is videoconferenc<strong>in</strong>g. Each modality<br />

has advantages and disadvantages, which are listed <strong>in</strong> Tables 20.1 and 20.2.<br />

Telemedic<strong>in</strong>e can augment conventional health care delivery. It can reduce geographic<br />

barriers to access to care and expertise for patients, physicians, and other<br />

health professionals. 5 It can reduce time barriers to appropriate attention and care.<br />

Telemedic<strong>in</strong>e-enhanced care can connect community and tertiary care hospitals,<br />

patient homes and practitioners and offices and mobile physician. Emergency and<br />

critical cases can receive timely attention from providers with appropriate expertise,<br />

Table 20.1 Comparison of real time and store-and-forward telemedic<strong>in</strong>e modalities<br />

Real time Store and forward<br />

Live <strong>in</strong>teraction: feedback<br />

and physician/family<br />

<strong>in</strong>teraction<br />

Yes No<br />

Cost Inexpensive<br />

Moderately expensive<br />

$8,000–$25,000 per site $20,000–$100,000<br />

per site<br />

Image quality Acceptable/diagnostic Optimal (equiv to send<strong>in</strong>g end)<br />

Hard copy at receiv<strong>in</strong>g end No Yes<br />

Required bandwidth At least 384 Kbps:<br />

No m<strong>in</strong>imum: Higher<br />

For acceptable frame rate bandwidth decreased<br />

transmission time<br />

Reliance on <strong>in</strong>telligent<br />

compression<br />

No Yes<br />

Electronic compression H.320 or H.323<br />

Lossless, JPEG, or MPEG<br />

algorithm<br />

videoconferenc<strong>in</strong>g<br />

Time commitment<br />

Availability at time of Can review study any time<br />

by physician at<br />

receiv<strong>in</strong>g end<br />

transmission required<br />

Limited by location<br />

at send<strong>in</strong>g site<br />

Yes No<br />

Table 20.2 Comparison of synchronous and asynchronous distance education<br />

Synchronous Asynchronous<br />

Benefits Live <strong>in</strong>teraction Individual choice of time and place<br />

Experience/lectur<strong>in</strong>g skills of presenter Interactive for vary<strong>in</strong>g levels of expertise<br />

Case discussions with questions Immediate <strong>in</strong>dividualized feedback<br />

Individually focused learn<strong>in</strong>g<br />

experience<br />

Evaluation tools<br />

Easier to l<strong>in</strong>k to CME<br />

Challenges Delivery system and technical issues No face to face <strong>in</strong>structor <strong>in</strong>teraction<br />

Schedul<strong>in</strong>g from both sides Loose skills of a dynamic lecturer<br />

Different levels of audience expertise Not <strong>in</strong>dividualized for specific questions<br />

Program/learner evaluation Hardware/software requirements<br />

Comfort with computer based tools

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