Application of a Mobile Telemedicine System with Multi Communication Links for Disaster Reliefs in Indonesia

摘要

Natural disasters sometimes occur at locations where medical facilities are not available. Although if such kind of a facility is near, the level of damage can over load this facility and require assistance of a more mobile resource. A mobile telemedicine system is considered an appropriate means catering for various catastrophic cases. This paper offers application of a mobile telemedicine system for disaster reliefs in Indonesia. The system consists of a low cost mobile telemedicine kit and a base unit. The main significant feature of this system is the facility of integrated health services which can be run during a normal situation or in disastrous cases. Furthermore, communication between these two units can be conducted via multicommunication links, so having choice of communication means become an advantage particularly for disaster relief. Disaster reliefs barriers such as limited hospital facilities are also presented as subjects for consideration. The system has been tested technically, and its application in normal situation has been succesfully implemented. Moreover, testing the system in a disaster environment has to be carried out, as well as equiping the system according to the 'standard' telemedicine package requirements for various disastrous cases.