A new system developed by a telecommunications engineer in Spain is on the way to become a boon in the medical world. The system makes it possible to establish contact between the patient and the doctors with the help of interactive digital television, allowing patients to be treated and monitored in their homes.
ATS-Interactive, the system designed by Alejandro Fanjul Fernandez, is getting positive response from a number of companies and government bodies. After doing a series of check-ups, the system opens a channel of communication between the health care professional and the patient.
The system makes it possible for the doctors to monitor their patients at any time without the patient having to visit the doctor. The doctors can easily check their patients’ progress by measuring the weight, pulse, blood pressure and glucose level which is inbuilt in the system.
It is useful in monitoring post-operative patients and elderly people who require very little medical attention and can carry out their tasks independantly and hence they can be monitored at their homes.
An application known as ‘interactive dosifier’ makes the system more useful. ‘Interactive dosifier’ works as a reminder and each time the patient has to take a medicine, the system sounds an alert and a nurse appears on the TV screen to tell exactly which medicine has to be taken.
The system does not interrupt with your TV viewing as the program can be minimized or sent in the background, which will emerge only for a reminder or when the patient wants to communicate. The patient can also send email or interactive message to the doctor via his TV.
The mobility of the patient is not restricted as the system identifies the patient through a smart card which can be used at any location where the application is available.
Fernandez is also exploring the possibilities of introducing the system on mobile phones having DVB-H technology. And the work on making the system sensor-based is also on the way.
