Internet-Based Telemedicine System for Community Health Centers

The project proposal describes the development of a pilot internet & communication technology-based telemedicine system for primary community health-care in both urban and rural areas in Armenia. The purpose of the project is to establish and operate a telemedicine connection between an office in Yerevan (the “Central, or Hub Site”) and community health care facility in remote location (the “Peripheral Site”), for provision of teleconsulting services by selected medical and surgical specialists in Yerevan to remote site’s patients and their managing physicians. Armenia has relatively complicated health care problems to solve, due to shortage of human resources in many rural areas, health-care facilities, and financial resources. The proposed development project will utilize the existing internet technology, to further develop PC-based medical stations, and to do field testing in at least eight locations. The pilot telemedicine system will consist of medical stations for community health centres, and a station for each referral hospital, health office, and a test laboratory. Both hardware and software development, as well as system/network integration will be conducted and the system will gradually be expanded to cover larger numbers of stations. After the completion of the pilot system, it is expected that a series of systematic clinical/field experiments will be conducted. They should include testing the following functions, namely: recording & reporting, improved diagnosis, limited tele-consultation, tele-coordination, and tele-education. It is also expected that during the implementation of the project, we could disseminate and recommend an "ICT policy and infrastructure for social and community usage, especially in improving the primary community health care in Armenia".

Other Prospective Projects

• Establishment, Development & Maintenance of National Comprehensive Telemedicine Network in Armenia
• Promotion of Home Telecare Services in Armenia
• Development of Mobile eHealth (mHealth) Network in Armenia