Northern Periphery Programme

Remote Telematic Solutions for patient diagnoses and training of health care professionals in sparsely populated areas

Measure: 1.2
Eligible Budget: 935 450 EUR euros
NPP Award: 500 000 EUR euros

The project aims to develop the practical use of tele-medical support within different disciplines of the health and medical services in sparsely populated and remote areas of the northern periphery. The purpose is to increase patient security, service quality and to protect patients’ legal rights within the area. An IT-based training programme at individual, group and organisational level will be developed, which will serve as a foundation for a European standard certification.

To view Current Progress Reports click here.

Lead Organisation:
Municipality of Vannas Sweden

Contact Person: Ms Margareta Bergek Address: Drottninggatan 2 Vannas SE - 911 81 Sweden	Telephone: +46 935 14310 Fax: +46 935 140 12 Email: margareta.bergek@vannas.se Website: www.vannas.se/kommun/forvaltningar/vord-omsorg/MEMO/Utkast.htm
Start Date: 01/09/2002	End Date: 31/05/2005

Project Publications

Brochure.pdf - 197K
REMEDY - Final report.pdf - 256K
Remedy Case Study.pdf - 1091K
Remedy Presentation in english.ppt - 596K

Objectives

The project aims to address a number of issues related to remote medical care. Problems to be solved include the following:
· Training and education
· Protocol in health organisation
· Human problems related to the adaptation to new working practices involving the use of IT in new innovative solutions
Improvement in these areas along with a convergence of economic and political aims should lead to the development of remote communities, since these are often inadequately supplied with expert advisors. This is due to the fact that workers in remote communities are typically district nurses, paramedics, etc., with a broad training which enables them to deal with basic conditions, rather than specialist (including IT) skills.

Project Activities

· To identify the key factors which need to be included in a training programme
· To include these key factors in a flexible framework suitable for use throughout the Northern periphery
· To deliver the training programme to members of the multidisciplinary healthcare team
· Study groups and sub-projects will be carried out in each of the partner areas and expertise exchanged

Expected Results

The production of an instructional training manual on remote medical care for use throughout the Northern Periphery. With the statistical significance of the information supplied, benchmarking and comparison between 3 countries should accelerate the delivery of equality of health care services. The incorporation of good practice of telemedicine and the transfer of knowledge of telemedicine from one country to others should also add value to decision-making and help transnational regional planning.

Results So Far

· The identification of the key factors that need to be included in a training programme has been completed and have been included in a flexible framework
· Legal and ethical issues document and training manual for tele-teaching have been completed
· A manual detailing the main components of the system and how to operate has been completed
· The training programme has been delivered to members of the multidisciplinary health care team
· Local informational and work meetings have been held that focus on the training for and planning of a clinical trial including patients and relatives/next-of-kin and with particular attention to the areas of ethical reflection and ethical decision-making.

Partners: (click name for additional info)

European Union

Cross Programme Initiatives