The Ramsay Way 2017 | 02 5 Telemedicine provides new paradigm of care for CAFAT patients In April, Ramsay Health Care commenced its new encrypted imaging video conference program Coviu – allowing Ramsay doctors in Australia to collaborate with multi-disciplinary teams in New Caledonia and view large encrypted files such as MRIs in seconds. “Effectively, it allows doctors to make a decision on the spot in the treatment of patients with life-threatening conditions,” says Dr Francis Chu, Liver Surgeon at St George Private Hospital who frequently travels to New Caledonia to conduct clinics with physicians in Noumea. “This means collaboratively the team can make a betterinformed decision on whether a liver cancer for instance is operable or non-operable; or for cardiac patients what type of bypass procedure is more suitable. In the past, the scans would usually come days later with the patient due to privacy concerns. This way the process is sped up; decision making is instantaneous. It’s almost like being at the bedside. At the same time, the information is encrypted assuring patient privacy.” Ramsay Senior Manager of IT strategy and Architecture Glen Smith said Ramsay had also donated high definition cameras and speakers to enable the new Coviu Teleconference platform – which can be set up in seconds via Google Chrome through the physician’s desktop. “Some of the imaging files are enormous - up to 500MB. New Caledonia is a French colony and data sovereignty laws are stricter in France than anywhere else in the world. This way, the patient’s information is not transmitted from the hospital in New Caledonia to Sydney – all patient information and scans remain on the computers at the new 645-bed CHT MediPole hospital in Noumea.” Ramsay’s French-speaking CAFAT consultant Jacqui Waters said teleconferencing between French and Australian doctors would now become a monthly multi-disciplinary meeting feature at CHT MediPole - which has recently subsumed the old Gaston Bourret and Magenta Hospitals. “Patient confidentiality is taken very seriously in New Caledonia. This new system is really upending the way physicians are communicating. It’s allowing doctors on the island who are dealing with tough cases to provide top-flight care patients by partnering cheaply and efficiently with worldclass physicians within the Ramsay network of hospitals.”
The Ramsay Way - Winter 2017
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