International concerted action on collaboration in telemedicine: G8 sub-project 4

The main objective of G-7/8 Global Healthcare Applications sub-project 4 is to enable an international concerted action on collaboration in telemedici ne, To promote and facilitate the implementation of telemedicine or health telematics networks around the world, it was felt necessary to solve certai n key issues. Five thematic solution-seeking FORUMS are each addressing a s pecific item. The first FORUM held in Montreal, Canada on May 28-30 1998 fo cussed on Interoperability of telemedicine and telehealth systems. Other FO RUMS address other themes such as: Impacts of Telemedicine on health care m anagement (Regensburg, Germany, November 21-23 1998); Evaluation and Cost E ffectiveness of Telemedicine (Melbourne, Australia, February 19-20 1999); C linical and technical quality and standards (Washington, USA, April 29-30 1 999); Medico-legal aspects of national and international applications (Oxfo rd, UK, fail 1999). The main objective of these FORUMS is to arrive at best practices through c onsultation amongst experts who seek together the best solutions to facilit ate global international telemedicine networks. Towards this goal, G-8 sub-project-4 will also conduct the IMPACT (Internat ional Multipoint Project of Advanced Communication in Telemedicine) feasibi lity study which will aim at conducting multipoint exchanges between teleme dicine units in the academic centers of the participating G-8 and other cou ntries. More detailed information on this project and summaries of the init ial FORUMS are found on our Web site at www.g7sp4.org.