Science & Technology
Science and Technology
Science and Technology
Tue, April 7, 2009
Mon, April 6, 2009 Polycom, Inc.: Polycom Telepresence Helps Loddon Mallee Health Alliance Deliver Faster, Better Care to Rural Trauma Patients
PLEASANTON, CA and CHICAGO, IL--(Marketwire - April 6, 2009) - HIMSS09 Booth No. 412 -- Reflecting the continued global trend toward telehealth, Australia's [ Loddon Mallee Health Alliance ] is bridging the distance between trauma patients in rural areas and city-based medical specialists by using innovative high-definition (HD) visual communication solutions from Polycom, Inc. (
Loddon Mallee Health Alliance (LMHA) is utilizing the pioneering [ Polycom® Practitioner Cart™ HDX ] to facilitate real-time, face-to-face interactions between the specialists and remotely located patients and doctors; as well as to enable the instant transfer of patients' vital signs, clinical test results and x-rays. Critical to the effectiveness of the virtual assessment process is the [ Polycom HDX ] visual communication technology that powers the practitioner carts, combining HD video, HD audio and HD image sharing to create a life-like virtual meeting experience that enables specialists and patients to communicate as clearly and naturally as if situated in the same room.
By choosing Polycom's open standards-based video technology, LMHA can also maximize its return on investment by adding external plug-and-play medical peripheral devices to facilitate other telehealth applications that improve the efficiency and quality of patient care.
Leading healthcare providers embrace telehealth solutions
"The emergence of HD video technology has evolved telehealth to a level where it not only provides clinical efficacy, but also satisfies the assessment and modality requirements of healthcare professionals," said Ron Emerson, RN-BSN, global director of healthcare at Polycom, chair of the American Telemedicine Association Industry Council, and board member of the American Telemedicine Association. "As LMHA's use of Polycom's telehealth solution demonstrates, ensuring clinicians can observe and hear subtle patient nuances are integral to an effective consultation over distance. HD voice and video clarity, together with the exchange of high resolution content, ensures virtual trauma assessments are as accurate as when specialists are in the same room as patients."
"These technology developments are driving a shift to increased telehealth adoption globally. Aside from LMHA, we are seeing other leading healthcare providers worldwide seek to increase their coverage and quality of service delivery through telehealth -- Ontario province in Canada, the University of Texas Medical Branch and NuPhysicia to name just a few examples," added Emerson.
Extending equal healthcare opportunities to rural areas
Enabling rural and remote trauma patients to avoid travel has many important benefits, according to LMHA Chief Information Officer, Bruce Winzar.
"Being able to bring a Melbourne-based specialist to the bedsides of critically ill patients in our regional hospitals over video helps LMHA to efficiently and effectively achieve the best healthcare outcomes for those patients -- maximizing our resources as a provider, and delivering precious relief to the patients and their families in what can be very stressful circumstances," said Winzar. "Using Polycom's telehealth solution, delivered over a high-speed broadband network, LMHA is able to extend the same healthcare opportunities to rural patients that their counterparts in the city have access to."
LMHA telehealth solution recognised with industry award
The innovation and impact of the virtual trauma application has been recognized by the [ Australian Telecommunications User Group ] (ATUG), which presented its Annual National Award for the Effective Use of Broadband in the Healthcare category to LMHA.
"The ATUG awards point to the power of advanced communications services and true broadband in making a real difference," said Rosemary Sinclair, managing director of ATUG. "The LMHA telehealth deployment is a good example of how the proliferation of broadband internet globally, together with advances in high definition technology, is driving new applications for visual communication that have not been possible before."
Polycom telehealth solutions support healthcare provider efficiency, productivity
Telehealth solutions, such as the Polycom Practitioner Cart HDX, facilitate the cost-effective delivery of high-quality healthcare to patients wherever they may be situated. In addition to enabling specialists located in key centers of excellence to provide real-time assistance to rural and remote areas, telehealth solutions can be used to help patients in crisis situations (like natural disasters and pandemics) to be assessed faster -- and without the costs and risks associated with travel. With an unrivalled heritage in delivering high-quality voice, video and telepresence offerings in a host of environments, Polycom is an established leader in providing customised, easy-to-use solutions that support healthcare providers in reducing costs and maximising productivity.
For further information on Polycom's telehealth solutions, visit: [ http://www.polycom.com/solutions/industry_solutions/healthcare/index.html ]
About Loddon Mallee Health Alliance
The foundation members of LMHA are all publicly funded health services within the Loddon Mallee region which extends from Mildura in the north, South Australian border in the West, Gisborne in the south and Rochester in the east -- approximately 25 percent of the land mass of Victoria, with a population of approximately 290,000. Core services of the alliance include ICT strategic planning, advocacy, standards and policy development and delivery of managed ICT services.
About Polycom
Polycom, Inc. (
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