Tele-Health application demonstrated
over wireless network in Tsilitwa and Sulenkama, Eastern Cape
|
|
An effective application of voice and video communications was
demonstrated by the clinic sister at the Tslitwa clinic, and a doctor
at the Sulenkama hospital. An Ethernet camera was incorporated into
the wireless link between the clinic (send site) and the hospital
(receive site). Basic training was given to both the clinic sister
and doctor on system usage.
A mountain obstructed the line-of-site between the clinic and the
hospital, necessitating the need for a repeater site.
|
|
|
|
|
| Tsilitwa Clinic sister |
|
Doctor at Sulenkama hospital |
|
The patient, a mother with her baby, arrives at the rural clinic
in Tsilitwa. By prior arrangement, a time had been established with
the doctor at Sulenkama hospital for the tele-consultation.
The clinic sister switches on the web camera and asks the mother
to lie the
|
|
|
|
|
Mother with patient (baby) |
|
|
|
baby on the bed. The sister switches on the PC and opens
Internet Explorer, which had been previously configured to operate
the webcam software. Within seconds, the image of the baby is visible
on the clinic sisters PC. She picks up the phone and calls the doctor
over the wireless link at the Sulenkama hospital. |
|
The doctor picks up the phone. She has already switched on her
PC and opened up Internet Explorer previously configured with the
webcam software. Instantly the picture of the baby appears on her
screen. The doctor talks to the clinic sister and asks her to re-focus
the camera on the baby. The clinic sister does this with some difficulty
holding the phone in one hand and adjusting the camera with the
other.
The doctor views the baby and a tele-consultation process begins
with simultaneous voice and video communication between the doctor
and sister. Note, that the doctor can see the clinic, but the clinic
cannot see the doctor, as the video link is uni-directional one.
|
