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Advanced Technology Brings Experts From Miles Away to Newborns' BedsidesTuesday, June 18, 2002 Jacksonville, Fla. - A University of Florida researcher unveiled a new technology last week, allowing UF pediatric cardiologists in Jacksonville to examine and diagnose newborns with suspected heart problems across North Florida and South Georgia without leaving the area. Andrew Barrett, Ph.D., director of telemedicine for the UF Department of Pediatrics in Jacksonville, has designed and is completing production of custom medical carts, called the Echo Link, which allows video, audio, echocardiogram and data transmission between other medical facilities. The technology originates from telemedicine, connecting locations across the U.S. together for interactive video and audio conferences, seminars and classes. "Our physicians wanted to reach out beyond their own hospital and improve newborn care in other locations, providing quicker and more effective access to experts in the field," said Barrett. "I began gathering all the features the physicians requested and then worked backwards to design a unique application of technology that is affordable for small and rural institutions, the Echo Link." At the remote location, the medical technician would connect the Echo Link cart to a newborn's EKG and vital signs displays. The cart would transmit these in real time over the Internet and phone lines to UF pediatric cardiologists, like Edward Bayne, M.D., UF's director of pediatric echocardiography in Jacksonville. With the cart's attached camera and microphone, the physicians would also be able to see the newborn during examination and could communicate with the medical technician or attending physician. Pediatric cardiology is a very specialized field, and an extremely critical one for Neonatal Intensive Care Units (NICU), such as the Level III NICU at Shands Jacksonville. However most Echo technologists are trained on and have experience with adult patients. "Now through the Echo Link, specialists can be in two places at one time," explained Bayne, who is also a UF clinical assistant professor of pediatrics at Shands Jacksonville. "I provide the expert guidance and newborn Echo experience to talk medical technicians in other facilities through the procedure." Prior to this technology, a physician would send test results to an expert for review or transport the newborn to another facility for testing and diagnosis. The development of the Echo Link shows promise of reducing the time needed for proper expert consultation. This state of the art technology has already proven successful. "During our first testing of the Echo Link, a newborn's suspected heart condition led to the diagnosis of another very serious health condition," Bayne said. Barrett is building eight Echo Link carts for interested medical facilities across North Florida and South Georgia, including potential centers in Tallahassee, Pensacola, Daytona Beach and Jacksonville in Florida and Waycross in Georgia. "We have taken the first step in placing the Echo Link carts in our community but ultimately we hope this new technology will spread throughout the world, granting every newborn access to experts," noted Barrett. For more information, please contact: |
