New Tech Cuts Doc’s Response Times

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NICK O’HARE from Medicare introduces Mark Finnegan to the new AMD technology for doctors.

Out of hours doctors’ response times will be cut by two thirds in Ireland with the introduction of a new technology by Ireland’s leading healthcare company, Mediserve.

The AMD TeleClinic involves a high-tech portable device being despatched quickly to patients’ homes, allowing for remote connection with a GP. Mediserve’s Doctor on Duty out-of-hours response times during periods of high demand will be reduced by up to 4 hours. It will also cut down A&E waiting times.

The device will be used by the paramedic to measure vital signs and record high resolution images of the area of complaint. It also has the ability to listen to heart and lung sounds, the same process that a doctor would go though in an examination. This information is then sent to the doctor, via the AMD TeleClinic. The Doctor will conduct a face-to-face, real-time consultation, also via the device, to determine the diagnosis. Details of the callout can be electronically and securely transmitted to the local GP after the visit and stored on the patient’s file.

Mediserve, provides the Doctor on Duty out of hours service to the majority of GPs in the greater Dublin area and responds to over 5,000 calls per month. This new technology will initially be available in Dublin for patients of subscribing GPs, the number which is increasing every week. Within nine months it is expected that the service will be available nationwide.

Speaking about this exciting new advance in telemedicine, Dr Pearse Phelan, medical director of the Mediserve group said, “Time wasted by doctors travelling to and from patients’ homes, will now be better spent diagnosing and managing patients.”

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