A Deployable Telemedicine Capability in Support of Humanitarian Operations

Abstract

This paper describes how a military concept for telemedicine support in humanitarian crisis, the Medical Command, Control, Communication and Telemedicine Special Medical Augmentation Team (MC3T SMART TEAM), was transitioned from a theoretical concept into a functioning, operational entity. The European Regional Medical Command (ERMC) MC3T SMART TEAM successfully tested its capabilities during a military training exercise with the 212th mobile army surgical hospital (MASH). This was followed by successful real-life telemedicine support missions during a planned humanitarian support mission in Africa and then an emergency disaster support mission in Pakistan. While on these missions, the SMART team provided access to the Internet and e-mail by means of limited bandwidth mobile satellite equipment, established a working telemedicine process by introducing the staff to the United States Army's “Army Knowledge Online (AKO) Remote Consultation Program,” and established a successful connection of the 212th's digital radiography system to the “Tri-Service Global Encrypted Picture Archiving and Communication System (PACS) and Teleradiology Network.”