KEY INITIATIVE:
TELEMEDICINE

Organizational Priority #4

Enhance information technology management through improvement of existing and development of new business and clinical systems.

Leader

Audrey Kelly

Collaborators

NIAID, NCI POB, Clinical Bioethics, Diagnostic Radiology, NCI Urology, Rehabilitation Medicine, Transfusion Medicine, CC/OD Duke Program, Outpatient Department, Office of the Director

Description

The NIH Clinical Center established a telemedicine program in October 1996 for it's biomedical research community in an effort to expand both clinical research protocols and opportunities through the use of telecommunication and information technologies. The program was established with the following goals:

• Create greater opportunities for both researchers and patients around the world
  to participate in NIH studies
• Provide increased access to patients while maintaining quality care through
  the use of telemedicine applications
• Assess current and emerging technologies in order to provide telemedicine matches to medical disciplines and respond to the changing needs of
  biomedical research

Accomplishments-to-Date

• Setup an operational NIH telemedicine clinic (room 11C426) in Bldg. 10 supporting:
  • a clinical trail of immune enhancing therapy for tuberculosis patients
    for the NIAID.
  • the NCI/Pediatric Oncology Branch "Tumor Boards"
  • CC/Bioethics"BEST" collaboration with other experts located in medical facilities around the country
• Began using Kinko's nationwide videoconferencing services to allow physicians to consult and follow-up patients in lieu of more expensive and time-consuming visits to NIH
• Supporting CC-Duke University distance learning CRTP masters degree program
• Implemented the local area network for the Clinical Center Starbright project

FY2000 Goals

• Survey clinical center and intramural clinical research department heads and identify application of telemedicine technology as part of their research
• Provide quality day-to-day operational support through the renovation of the telemedicine clinic and train CC staff on the use of telemedicine. Support physician-to-physician, and physician-to-patient clinical research and patient care
• Implement telemedicine remote access and home care monitoring of NIH patients for the NIAID. Provide teleradiology capability in the telemedicine clinic to allow clinicians to immediately send and receive images for diagnostic consultation with outside specialists
• Implement an interactive multi-media system in the Bldg. 10/BL400 Distance Learning Center to expand the student size of the NIH/Duke masters degree program
• Implement the Clinical Center Starbright project