TELERADIOLOGY - Building bridges of knowledgeArchna Gupta

Department ofRadiologySanjay Gandhi Postgraduate Institute ofMedical Sciences, Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh,

IndiaTeleradiology is the electronic transmission ofradiological imagesfrom one location toanotherfor the purpose ofinterpretation and consultation. Teleradiology is therefore afacilitator for more optimal medical care. It is not a form of imaging but rather thetechnology or process of image transfer/transmission. Through teleradiology, images canbe sent to another part of the hospital, or around the world. It enables radiologists torender diagnosis and to consult remotelyIndia is a vast country having large and diverse geographical area. The health caredelivery system is a state subject through a network ofprimary health centers, communityhealth centers, district hospitals and medical colleges. The tertiary level hospitals withsuper specialties and sub specialties in medical sciences are very few and are located inbig cities; therefore the expert and specialty care is inaccessible to the rural andunderserved peoples in remote areas. Science of medicine is advancing in a very rapidpace adding new modality, technique and knowledge in every second, throwingchallenges for any individual and institution to keep up to date. Ensuring adequateinfrastructure in each and every medical institution for delivering quality medicaleducation neither feasible nor economical for any developing country. Due to theadvancement in telecommunication technology particularly availability of broadbandwidth and building regional and global network across the continent networkinggeographically dispersed medical educational institutions bringing in phenomena of classroom teaching. Tele Medicine is an effective way to teach students in distant and underresourced places. Telemedicine has come up as an important tool for providing efficienthealthcare. Beyond doubt, it finds its most important applications in developing countrieslike India- a multi cultural multi lingual country, having a low doctor patient ratio, evenworsening in rural areas where three fourths of the population lives. In such situationstelemedicine definitely can help overcome geographical, time, social, and culturalbarriers.With an aim to increase the awareness of teleradiology among the radiologist communityand to assess the usefulness and difficulties encountered in teleradiology practice in Indiawe started conducting regular teleradiology sessions with medical college in state ofOrissa and telereporting and teleconsultation sessions with remote Primary health centerand district hospitals located in the state of Uttaranchal and Raibareilly in Uttar Pradesh.Here we will discuss the benefits achieved and the problems encountered while deliveryexpert opinion and medical education in such diverse situations.

AuthorArchna Gupta - Associate Professor, Department of Radiodiagnosis, SGPGIMS,Luck(now. agup1avscpgciac..n

1-4244-0942-X/07/$25.O0 02007 IEEE. 260