Noted Emergency Physician Richard Aghababian, MD, Discusses the Benefits of Telemedicine Use at Disaster Scenes.
N. Chelmsford, MA (PRWEB) April 23, 2008 — Executives at AMD Telemedicine, the leader in telemedicine hardware and software solutions with over 5,000 installations in more than 72 countries, today announced that a discussion on the value of telemedicine during a disaster with noted emergency medicine physician, Richard Aghababian, MD, was now available on the AMD web site.
Unlike day to day (emergent) operations in which a whole team works together to save one life, in disaster medicine, there can be many more victims than one’s immediate resources can handle. So that takes a different mindset. One has to switch from everything for one to best outcomes for the group
Dr. Aghababian, a fellow of the American College of Emergency Physicians (FACEP), an Associate Dean for Continuing Medical Education at the University of Massachusetts Medical School (UMMC), past Chairman of the Department of Emergency Medicine at the University of Massachusetts Medical School and past president of the American College of Emergency Physicians (ACEP) explains that telemedicine can play a vital role in the triage process, which is often a critical tool at disaster scenes.
"Unlike day to day (emergent) operations in which a whole team works together to save one life, in disaster medicine, there can be many more victims than one’s immediate resources can handle. So that takes a different mindset. One has to switch from everything for one to best outcomes for the group," said Dr. Aghababian. "(One has to determine) how to best allocate resources to do the greatest good for the greatest number. (In this process) triage is an important facet — the ability to determine who, with immediate treatment will live, and who might not, and who can wait for treatment for a while. Telemedicine can be of great help here to identify and understand patterns of injury, as well as to access information and experience on treatment"
Noting that preparedness is the key to successful response, Dr. Aghababian also discusses how telemedicine training can be vital prior to a disaster and what that training would entail.
"Dr. Aghababian’s considered opinion is another vote of support for the value of telemedicine," said Steven Normandin, president of AMD Telemedicine. " A true aid in the triage process, telemedicine can not only provide a critical, visual link between a disaster site and experienced medical personnel at a distant facility, but it can also be a conduit of vital patient data to enable life-saving treatment to begin right in the field."
To view Dr. Aghababian’s comments on the role of telemedicine in disasters, visit the AMD Telemedicine web site at http://www.amdtelemedicine.com/DrA.html .
About AMD Telemedicine
AMD Telemedicine is the leading, worldwide supplier of telemedicine equipment and technology devices used in telemedicine with more than 5,000 installed sites in 72 countries. AMD hardware and software products offer clinically acclaimed, cost-effective solutions for the most challenging medical applications. AMD also provides complete technical support in program design, device integration, training, and remedial service to assure a successful program implementation. For more information on AMD Telemedicine, please visit http://www.amdtelemedicine.com/, email us at pr @ amdtelemedicine .com or call 866-511-0923 .
