An image processing and management system for radiology with telemedicine services

The morphology of Greece has a significant effect on the structure and oper ational characteristics of the Creek health care system. The remote locatio n of many rural health care centers and the concentration of major hospital s in the few big cities have an effect on both the quality and availability of health care that is provided. We are developing a strategic plan that w ould allow hospitals and health care centers across Greece to exchange medi cal data in digital form and have access to telemedicine and teleconsulting facilities. Two pilot networks have been implemented. The first network is designed to allow for telemedicine and teleconsulting services in the isla nd of Evia. The second pilot network is an Image Management and Communicati ons Systems (IMAC) and was implemented in the Onassio Hospital in Athens. R esults of the pilot demonstrators were evaluated and have been very promisi ng for a scaled-up implementation of this pilot project. (C) 1999 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.