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News  Telemedicine via Satellite in the Information Society
ESA PR 30-2003. The European Space Agency is organising a telemedicine symposium, 'Telemedicine via Satellite in the Information Society', to be held at ESRIN, Frascati, Italy, on 23 and 24 May 2003. 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:
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 From 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 ICT for telemedicine is progressing from an exploratory phase towards a more operational profile, in which integration into existing healthcare systems and quick attainment of self-sustainability is essential. Bringing together ICT specialists and health professionals, this Symposium aims to review the current status of satellite-based telemedicine services and technologies and to converge on common requirements of direct relevance for future telemedicine services via satellite. During the two-day event, guidelines for defining future programmatic actions for the further development and promotion of telemedicine via satellite will also be identified. The following themes of Telemedicine via satellite will be covered during the Symposium, each with a dedicated Working Group:
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