In many parts of the world, access to the newer medical imaging machines or techniques is nonexistent. Xray, CT Scans, PET scans, MRI’s are all just science fiction to medical personnel in other parts of the world.  The reason, of course, is the cost of these large pieces of equipment.

Check out this article from Medical News Today.

This article cites the increased costs involved partly related to the three functions of the device.

1. Imaging
2. Storing and Transmitting Images
3. Displaying Images

But the author points out that only one of these really has to do with the taking of the picture, the imaging process itself.  The two other functions could be taken care of by other methods.  The average cell phone out there possesses the ability to receive, transmit, and store images as well as display images.  The cost of these machines could be greatly decreased by using a standardized interface that would allow any cell phone to upload, download, or display the images taken remotely.

This could change the way rural or remote medicine is handled with a central doctor or specialist reading the images and determining the urgency of a given medical problem.

Hi!

This is my second comment in Mediccast, I’m teaching advanced medical care for ship deck officers for 6 years now and one of the things I suggest to them whenever they have some crew who have significant health problems while they’re out at sea is to contact a healthcare provider by internet as I know most, if not all, commercial ships already have internet. If there are any significant findings, then they can get a picture or video of the patient and send it to the doctor in a healthcare facility for diagnosis and management.