Wireless Applications in Wireless Applications in Mobile TelemedicineMobile Telemedicine

Kent Tonkin,

Assistant Director for IT, CERMUSA

CERMUSA DefinedCERMUSA Defined• Research Center• Saint Francis University, Loretto, PA• Identify Sustainable Technology

Solutions for improved ACCESS to quality healthcare and education in rural, isolated and/or under-served areas.

The Center of Excellence for Remote and Medically Under-Served Areas

Medical Communications NeedsMedical Communications Needs

• Continuous audio communication• Vital signs (EKG, SPO2)• “Offline” data storage

The Center of Excellence for Remote and Medically Under-Served Areas

Technology OverviewTechnology OverviewTechnology Goals

• Vital signs• Images/motion video• Multiple pipelines• Use of public infrastructure

vs. establishing infrastructure

The Center of Excellence for Remote and Medically Under-Served Areas

Technology OverviewTechnology Overview

Technology Difficulties• Sporadic mobile coverage• Questionable bandwidth• Combined pipelines• Relevant equipment

availability

The Center of Excellence for Remote and Medically Under-Served Areas

Technology OverviewTechnology Overview

• Currently using AMPS, Spread Spectrum (2.4 GHz) and UHF (licensing in process)

•Attempted transmission: Audio, patient data/vitals, video

The Center of Excellence for Remote and Medically Under-Served Areas

The PlanThe Plan

UHF VHF

CellularOther

Hospital Receive Site

Spread Spectrum

Intelligent Router

Difficulties so far….Difficulties so far….• Bandwidth, bandwidth, bandwidth• IP routing over low bandwidth• Handling other forms of data

The Center of Excellence for Remote and Medically Under-Served Areas

Video from an Ambulance? Video from an Ambulance? • H.323 VTC• 2.4 GHz Spread Spectrum• Dual mobile and fixed antennae• Variable coverage/line of sight

The Center of Excellence for Remote and Medically Under-Served Areas

Mobile H.323 GatewayMobile H.323 Gateway

GatewayPublic Network

Wireless TCP/IP Network

Connection

Stand-alone IP VTC

Will it work?Will it work?

• Best possible outcomes will continue to improve

• More bandwidth=more possibilities• All communications converge on single

standard

The Center of Excellence for Remote and Medically Under-Served Areas

Next StepsNext Steps

• New “diversity” switch• Satellite data• Experimentation on “real world”

bandwidth (4800-19.2kbps)• Digital radios

The Center of Excellence for Remote and Medically Under-Served Areas

New Technology ChallengesNew Technology Challenges

• Cost/Investment• How “standard” are standards?• Quality• Path of progression (3G)• Security• Technology conflicts

The Center of Excellence for Remote and Medically Under-Served Areas

Questions?Questions?

www.cermusa.francis.eduwww.cermusa.francis.edu