PORTABLE SATELLITE TELEMEDICINE IN PRACTICE

The US army's first portable telemedicine unit was built in 1993 and c omprised a 'ruggedized' videoconferencing unit. The unit was initially used in the United Nations' operations in Macedonia in February 1994 and subsequently in support of the Mobile Army Surgical Hospitals in H aiti, but its dimensions made it suitable only for locations where a m ove at short notice was unlikely. The second portable telemedicine uni t comprised a PC linked to an Inmarsat B earth station through a modem . The unit allowed videoconferencing at 64 kbit/s. Three and a half ye ars of clinical experience with both units has shown this to be quite adequate for the majority of clinical telemedicine. Portable telemedic ine units have been a major benefit to medical commanders in the field .