AUSTRALIANS living outside of the major cites will have access to top medical specialists from their own community if Perth-based researcher and innovator Yogesan Kanagasingam can realise his vision for the Remote-i.
A software system developed to support the data and images captured by the Lions Eye Institute’s hand-held ophthalmology device, the EyeScan, Remote-i is an integrated information technology, data collection and communication system with far-reaching capabilities for the treatment of rural and remote communities.
Remote-i is simple to use, and with basic training a general practitioner or nurse anywhere in Australia could use it to capture images, including three-dimensional scans of patients’ eyes that can then be rapidly transmitted to an eye specialist or ophthalmologists for diagnosis.
Professor Yogesan’s key motivation for developing this potentially revolutionary technology was to address preventable blindness that stems from common eye diseases such as glaucoma and diabetic retinopathy, a major issue for indigenous communities.
New research suggests the measurement of blood vessels in the eye could provide early indications of the likelihood of stroke and even Alzheimer’s disease.
“70 per cent of blindness could be prevented if diagnosed early,” Professor Yogesan said.
“Most of the systems available in the market are electronic medical record systems, health records or patient databases and that is why we came up with some innovative features.
“None of the other systems can do video-conferencing and show images at the same time.”
It’s the potential for this software to support the diagnosis of conditions in specialities such as dermatology and even ear, nose and throat conditions that most excites Professor Yogesan, particularly in tandem with the CSIRO’s immersive, 3D imaging.
Partly funded by the Pilbara Development Commission, Remote-i is being installed in an OPSM clinic in the Pilbara and Professor Yogesan would like to see this model replicated Australia wide with the support of a network of ophthalmologists.
With the roll-out of the National Broadband Network, the video conferencing capacity of Remote-i will be faster and practitioners will have the opportunity to connect directly with the device and direct the collection of images in real time.
The system’s data collection capacity allows for quick and simple comparison of new scans with old, and vitally, medical staff can use the software to teleconference and discuss images displayed concurrently on a single screen of a hand help device such as an iPad.
These communication channels were a vital element for Professor Yogesan, who returned from his studies as a Fulbright scholar at Stanford University to accept the role of research director for the Australian e-Health Research Centre – a joint venture between CSIRO and the Queensland Government and national head of health services for CSIRO.
The future of Remote-i received a significant boost this month after it was honoured with the major prize at Australia’s premier technology award, the 2011 iAwards.
Professor Yogesan said the win had attracted the attention of technology giant Microsoft as well as Telstra, which was interested in hosting the server for its cloud-based data storage system.
