Science&Health: Funding could speed telemedicine growth

Doctors using robotic surgery to operate on patients in other
countries.

Specialists giving crucial advice to doctors with a stroke
victim hundreds of miles away.

Experts in Los Angeles diagnosing patients in rural areas
without having to leave home.

These are among the visions physicians at the UCLA School of
Medicine have for a new track focusing on telemedicine.

Through live video transmission and robotics, the telemedicine
program would focus on connecting medical specialists to patients
without ever bringing the two face to face. But the rate at which
UCLA doctors can develop the new department and technology depends
on whether Proposition 1D passes on Nov. 7.

That proposition would set aside $200 million to expand medical
programs at the University of California, funds which UCLA depends
on to establish a new medical track for telemedicine, said Alan
Robinson, associate vice chancellor for medical sciences.

With the funds, Robinson said UCLA’s medical school would
be able to admit 10 percent more students into its program to
concentrate specifically on telemedicine.

One form of telemedicine treatment Robinson said he is
interested in developing is long-distance robotic surgery.

“Right now a doctor can do surgery on a patient from a
separate room via 3-D video transmission,” Robinson said.
“But if a doctor can do it in another room, why not in
another state? Why not in another country?”

Robinson added that the U.S. Department of Defense has expressed
interest in the technology as well because it could allow doctors
in the U.S. to operate on injured soldiers abroad.

But Gerald Koocher, American Psychological Association
president, said there are lines telemedicine should not cross, such
as in the field of psychology.

UCLA would be able to use any money it receives from Proposition
1D to help Los Angeles improve the use of telemedicine care, which
is already available in other areas of California.

Santa Clara, San Francisco and San Diego already have programs
where stroke specialists can analyze a patient’s MRI and help
doctors several miles away make the best life-saving decisions
within the first two hours of a stroke, neurologist Dr. Jeffrey
Saver said.

Right now, UCLA only has such a connection with its hospital in
Santa Monica. But over the next three or four years, UCLA stroke
specialists such as Saver will be working to get 10 to 20 more
hospitals in Los Angeles County the same connection.

Saver said the development of telemedicine technology at UCLA,
which started this summer, will likely happen with or without the
proposition but would take longer to implement without the
proposition funds. The $200 million set aside for UC medical
programs has not been designated for certain schools or projects
yet, but the proposition specifies that some of the funds be used
to expand telemedicine programs.

If the proposition passes, the UC Board of Regents will allocate
the money at its meeting on Nov. 15 and 16.

But the proposition is not the only piece of legislation
spurring the growth of telemedicine.

Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger signed an executive order on Oct. 27
creating a task force which will work on establishing broadband
service across the state.

During the colloquium, a doctor examined an 11-year-old girl
with leukemia 100 miles away in Sacramento to show how stronger
telecommunications in the state can improve health care and make it
more affordable.

“In countries like Japan and South Korea , the people have
access to great technologies at lower costs than anywhere in
America. We can do that,” Schwarzenegger said.

With reports from Bruin wire services.

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