A telemedicine trial, undertaken by Cisco, has proven a success after almost 100 percent of responses suggested the technology used was acceptable, according to Cisco Systems, a U.S.-based multi-national corporation.
Cisco, NHS Scotland and the Scottish Centre for Telehealth teamed up to run the trial at Aberdeen Royal Infirmary in early 2008. The trial tested the performance of Cisco's TelePresence and HealthPresence solutions in supporting medical staff's treatment of patients with non-life threatening illnesses.
HealthPresence provides a more efficient way for doctors to assess patients' symptoms using physiological data obtained through stethoscopes, blood pressure cuffs and thermometers. Over the five months, 105 patients were treated. Ninety-nine percent of the patients said they were satisfied with the experience.
According to Cisco, the clinical director at the Scottish Centre for Telehealth said he had not expected patients to like it as much as they did, especially the older ones who are less familiar with technology.
However, respondents expressed some concerns regarding telemedicine. Patients felt that the solutions trialed should be used to enhance rather than replace current healthcare techniques, while doctors showed concern over the inability to perform hands-on examinations by video conference.
"It's clear that there is a global demand for better access to healthcare resources that can provide patients with the best possible care," said Kaveh Safavi, vice president, Global Healthcare Practice, Cisco, Internet Business Solutions Group "Simply making more doctors available is often not possible."
"Cisco HealthPresence is an example of our innovative approach to developing technologies that improve the quality of the healthcare experience, simplify healthcare communications, and connect patients with medical providers in a convenient and efficient manner, he added.
In the United States, Cisco and healthcare insurer UnitedHealth Group in July announced plans to build the first, nationwide telehealth network delivering healthcare services to rural and underserved areas.
