Telemedicine journal and e-health : the official journal of the American Telemedicine Association
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In patients with a major cardiac event, the first priority is to minimize time-to-treatment. For many patients, the first and fastest contact with the health system is through emergency medical services (EMS). However, delay to treatment is still significant in developed countries, and international guidelines therefore recommend that EMS use prehospital electrocardiogram (ECG). Many communities are implementing prehospital ECG programs, with different technical solutions. ⋯ A regional single telecardiology hub providing prehospital ECG for a sole regional public EMS provides an example of a prehospital ECG network optimizing quality of ECG report and uniformity of EMS assistance in a large region-wide network.
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Obstructive sleep apnea is common, but access to diagnosis remains limited. Telemedicine may allow greater access to care; however, its effect on patient satisfaction and treatment adherence is unknown. This study compares patient satisfaction and continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) adherence of patients seen by videoconference with those seen in person. ⋯ The findings indicate that patients were equally satisfied with their provider and adherent to CPAP treatment whether they were seen in person or via video. Videoconferencing may improve access to patient care without reducing patient satisfaction or treatment adherence.
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This article evaluates the feasibility of a tele-intensive care unit (ICU) nurse-driven early identification and treatment process for severe sepsis patients in improving compliance to evidence-based practice. ⋯ A tele-ICU nurse-driven process can prompt earlier identification and improve compliance to evidence-based practice bundles for complex disease states such as severe sepsis.
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Although many studies have analyzed breathing sounds in the diagnosis of obstructive sleep apnea syndrome, the recording of snoring sounds at home is hampered by the various background noises of daily life. Recordings also frequently include talking during sleep, which may infringe the privacy of patients. ⋯ This method provides a basis for telemonitoring of sleep apnea syndrome.
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With the development of information technology, real-time telemetry has been invented for checking patients' physiologic parameters during their transport, via an Emergency Medical Service (EMS) system. We developed a Real-Time Telemetry System (RTS), which sends physiologic parameters including electrocardiogram (ECG), vital signs, and pulse asymmetry in real-time from the ambulance to a hospital through the Emergency Medical Information Center, a kind of central control unit. Therefore, we asked whether the RTS monitoring affects the use of medical direction in EMS system. ⋯ The results showed that intermediate medical direction in the cases using the RTS was conducted more than in the conventional method-ambulance to the hospital. These results suggest that the RTS monitoring enhances the quality in developing EMS system.