The Tel-e-Atrics-Connect Solution

The Teleatrics' products and services were created to enable easy and affordable telemedicine interactions between healthcare providers (physicians, nurse practitioners, etc) and patients in separate locations. Telemedicine services encompass diagnosis, treatment, and information exchange through the use of telecommunications and information technology. The Tel-e-Atrics Connect system provides the infrastructure for an integrated telemedicine package of processes, training, software, and computer services to enable healthcare professionals and patients to engage in personable, effective and secure healthcare encounters over the internet. These “virtual house calls” provide timely medical support without the patient or provider leaving their usual location.

The Tel-e-Atrics Connect system was designed by physicians to insure comprehensive virtual medical visits can be conducted with ease of use and full confidence. The system software and technical design was architected and implemented by Trifecta, Inc, a software provider to business, medical and pharmaceutical suppliers. The system architecture uses the most contemporary elements to insure data security and reliability in carrying out telemedicine visits. And finally, the original implementation of the Tel-e-Atrics-Connect products and services were used as the primary infrastructure for the University of Rochester Medical Center’s nationally recognized Health-e-Access Program that provides a telemedicine care model for over 25 schools and day centers in the Rochester, NY metropolitan area.

The Tel-e-Atrics Connect system has three general components. These include:

Tel-e-Atrics Connect System Architecture

Originating (patient) Sites Products and Services: The originating site (typically at a daycare facility, remote clinic or group home) includes the necessary facilities to allow a patient to accomplish a “virtual house call” visit with a health care provider located at a remote location. This fully functional system consists of the computers, cameras, electronic stethoscope, software, training and implementation support to enable telemedicine visits between physicians and patients. The health care provider and patient, while physically separated, are connected by the Internet through high-speed broadband lines (cable modem or DSL services). Healthcare encounters using this equipment consist of two way real time visual and audio contact between one healthcare provider and the patient locations using inexpensive video conferencing cameras, connected to the patient telemedicine workstation. Through the use of use of various “attachments” at the patient site, also connected to the telemedicine workstation, visual observations (e.g., video clips of an ear canal, images of the eardrum, throat, eyes, or skin, etc.), recorded sounds (e.g., auscultation of heart and lungs) and other measurements, as appropriate to a specific patient, are captured for use and interpretation by the healthcare provider at a remote location.

The operation and integration of originating site functions are enabled with unique user friendly Tel-e-Atrics Connect software. This software has been designed in close conjunction with the healthcare provider community to maximize utility, minimize complexity and eliminate the need for a registered nurse or highly trained medical care individual at the originator site. The user friendly environment provided by the Tel-e-Atrics Connect products allow an individual to become knowledgeable and a skilled Certified Telehealth Assistant (CTA), trained in the Tel-e-Atrics Connect methods and process, within a matter of hours

Health Care Provider Site and Services: The second element of the Tel-e-Atrics Connect system is the equipment and services used at the healthcare provider location (e.g. the physician’s site or community hospital). This location allows the health care provider to observe and converse with the patient, review the information documented by the CTA, review the video, audio and other captured medical observations, and instruct the CTA to capture additional observations as necessary. The health care provider can easily see and talk with both the patient and CTA, just as would occur during an in-person visit. Depending on work process, patient /clinician availability, type of illness or medical problem, and time of day, it is also possible for the CTA to capture all the relevant information, record the observation, and “store and forward” the data to the healthcare provider for later review, diagnosis and treatment recommendations.

Web Based Architecture: The Tel-e-Atrics Connect system has been designed to operate in a contemporary fashion that is based on“Web” enabled architecture. This implementation uses a central server facility that provides highly secure Internet based communications allowing store and forward capability or real-time interaction between the originator and provider sites. It also allows an originator site to easily communicate with multiple caregivers based on patient needs or relationships with various medical care providers. In a daycare scenario, various children may be served by different pediatric practices in a local area. It also allows the healthcare care provider flexibility in operating from locations other than a medical office. A physician can actually provide a variety of services and follow-up from a laptop computer that has access to the Internet from virtually anywhere.

TELEATRICS SYSTEM OVERVIEW

The Tel-e-Atrics Connect system hardware and software are compliant with the necessary FDA and HIPPA requirements for this type and class of equipment and service.