N° 30–2003: Telemedicine via Satellite in the Information Society

This Symposium, which will bring together information and communications technology specialists and health professionals, aims to review the current status of satellite-based telemedicine services and technologies and identify common requirements of direct relevance to future satellite telemedicine services. During the two-day event, guidelines for defining future programmes for further development and promotion of telemedicine via satellite will also be identified.

Telemedicine depends on effective transfer of medical information through the use of information and communications technologies (ICTs). The expansion of telemedicine will be built on improvements in the availability, quality and speed of information transfer.

In order to improve the take-up and effectiveness of telemedicine, advanced ICT infrastructures are needed to provide access to suitable services in any given location.

Satellite communications, being accessible from virtually any location and quickly adaptable to specific needs, has great potential for the development of telemedicine.

Since the mid-1990s, a number of activities have been initiated in Europe by national and international organisations with the purpose of demonstrating and promoting the use of satcom in the field of telemedicine.

Through such projects it has been possible to demonstrate the technical feasibility of several satellite-based telemedicine systems, and to raise awareness among potential users.

Use of satellite-based ICTs for telemedicine is progressing from the exploratory phase towards a more operational profile, in which integration into existing health care systems and early attainment of self-sustainability are essential.

The following aspects of telemedicine will be covered during the Symposium, each with a dedicated Working Group:

· Telemedicine for elderly people

· Telemedicine for disaster relief and emergency applications

· Telemedicine for hospitals in remote areas

· Teleconsulting, second opinion and regulatory aspects

· Telemedicine, medical education and clinical research

· Telemedicine technology development in satcom.

Media representatives are invited to attend the Symposium's opening session on the morning of Friday 23 May.

For more information please contact:

Simonetta Cheli

Head of Public and Institutional Relations Office

ESA/ESRIN

Tel: + 39 06 94180350

Fax: + 39 06 94180352

Simonetta.Cheli@esa.int

 

Telemedicine via Satellite in the Information Society

ESRIN, Frascati, Italy - Magellan Conference Room

23-24 May 2003

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Media :___________________________________________________

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Please return by fax to:

Jacqueline Deymier

Public and Institutional Relations Office

ESA/ESRIN

Tel: +39.06.9418.0351

Fax: +39.06.9418.0352

 

TELEMEDICINE VIA SATELLITE IN THE INFORMATION SOCIETY

ESRIN, Frascati, Italy

23/24 May 2003, Magellan Conference Room

PROGRAMME

To refine the development of telemedicine via satellite in line with key health care priorities, the European Space Agency (ESA) is organising a symposium, ‘Telemedicine via Satellite in the Information Society’, to be held at ESRIN, Frascati, Italy on 23 and 24 May 2003.

Friday 23 May 2003

08:30-09:00 Registration and coffee

09:00-10:00 Opening

Institutional representatives

Mr C. Mastracci, Director of Applications, European Space Agency

Mr S. Vetrella, President, Italian Space Agency

Mrs T. Sorensen, Head, WHO Collaborating Centre for Telemedicine

10:00-10:40

Plenary introductions

Mr L. Lareng, Director of the European Institute of Telemedicine, Toulouse, France

· WG1: Telemedicine for elderly people - Mr D. Bravar, ITALTBS, Trieste, Italy

· WG2: Telemedicine for disaster relief and emergency applications - Mr G. Graschew, Surgical Research Unit OP 2000, Berlin, Germany

10:40-11:00 Coffee break

11:00-12:20 Plenary introductions (cont’d)

· WG3: Telemedicine for hospitals in remote areas - Mr A. Thömmes, Sanitätsamt der Bundeswehr, Munich, Germany

· WG4: Teleconsulting, second opinion and regulatory aspects - Mr L.-E Nohr, Norwegian Centre for Telemedicine, Tromsoe, Norway and Mrs Hélène Faure, Ministère de la Santé, Paris, France

· WG5: Telemedicine, medical education and clinical research - Mr A. Vranch, University of Plymouth, United Kingdom

· WG6: Telemedicine technology development in satcom - Mr F. Filiciani, ESA-ESTEC, Noordwijk, The Netherlands

12:20-13:30 Buffet lunch

13:30-14:30 Visit to ESRIN facilities

14:30-18:00 Working Group sessions

14:30-18:00 Telemedicine demonstrations Building 4

I-DISCARE (emergency telemedicine), TELANY (patient monitoring), Skymed (medical education), Sm@rt (interactive medical information platform), IEM (continuing medical education)

20:00-23:00 Dinner

Saturday 24 May (morning)

08:30-09:00 Coffee

09:00-11:30 Reports from Working Group chairmen

11:30-12:00 Summing-up and overall recommendations - Mr L. Lareng

12:00-12:30 Conclusions and farewell - Mr C. Mastracci

Symposium location :

The Symposium will be held at ESA/ESRIN at the following address:

Via Galileo Galilei

Casella Postale 64

I-00044 Frascati (Roma)

(Italy)

http://WWW.ESA.INT/export/esaCP/GGGYA78RVDC_index_0.html

http://WWW.ESA.INT/export/esaCP/GGG8UIPZ0GC_index_0.html

Contact :

Jacqueline Deymier

Public and Institutional Relations Office

ESA/ESRIN

Via Galileo Galilei

I-00044 Frascati

(Italy)

Tel.: + 39 06 94180351

Fax: + 39 06 94180352

e-mail : Jacqueline.Deymier@esa.int

 

For further information:

ESA Media Relations Service

Tel: +33(0)1.53.69.7155

Fax: +33(0)1.53.69.7690