University of Basel Telepathology Network on the TIE.
TIE: When did the program begin?
University of Basel: At the end of 2000.
TIE: How did the program begin? Did you have a 'champion' interested in telemedicine? Did someone identify a need that could be met by telemedicine?
University of Basel: We started with frozen section diagnoses at the end of 1991 because of a demand of the regional Hospital Samedan in the Swiss Mountains.
TIE: Was it originally grant-funded?
University of Basel: No. It was money resulting from an earlier working in favour of a company, which could profit from the coworking and has sponsered the money as acknowledgement and for scientific use.
TIE: Is it now self-sustaining?
University of Basel: No.
TIE: Was there any hesitance with staff/patient acceptance of using technology?
University of Basel: No.
TIE: How are providers reimbursed?
University of Basel: They are not reimbursed.
TIE: What services are provided? What equipment do you use?
University of Basel: Services are: Virtual Instituts for Pathology, Dermatology and Radiology. The equipment: a digital camera, a computer, an Internet access, the open source software iPath.
TIE: What legal/risk management precautions do you take?
University of Basel: No transfer of data, which could allow to identify the patients.
TIE: How big is the network? - where are other sites?
University of Basel: The network is worldwide on all five continents. I have lost the overview of the servers now working with iPath. There are more than 100 discussion groups and about 1000 users around the world. The main activities are in the moment in South Asia and in the Pacific region. But activities are increasing in central Asia (e.g. Uzbekistan)
TIE: Describe the program.
University of Basel: You can find a description of the acitivies and of the program at iPath | Open Source Telemedicine Platform.
TIE: Provide a success story.
University of Basel: The success story: Swiss National fond accepted the project "Telemedicine Network in Uzbekista" , the "National Telemedicine Network on Solomon Islands" functions easily, invitation for the second telemedicine congress in South Africa (East London, February 2006), invitation for a workshop at the Faculty of Medicine, Calgary, Canada (March 2006), for planning a National Telemedicine Network for Laos, invitation for the conception of a National Telemedicine Network in Mongolian, invitation for a workshop in Phnom Penh (Cambodia) (Octobre 2006).
TIE: What do you see as the program's most significant challenges with respect to long-term sustainability?
University of Basel: Open source software, Linux based.
TIE: Is there any research being conducted within the auspices of your telemedicine program?
University of Basel: Yes, evaluation of more than 250 cases from Honiara (Solomon Islands), more than 300 cases from Cambodia, and about 100 dermatological cases from South Africa.
TIE: Anything else you want to tell us about your program?
University of Basel: You are invited to use the program. You can always use it in e-teaching (virtual whiteboard for teachers ....). Please contact iPath | Open Source Telemedicine Platform and then go to the Teach. Server.
