Facilties Offered @ Amrita Institute of Medical Science, Kochi
It is mainly the practice of cardiology by using telemedicine technologies for providing outstanding cardiac care in a cost effective manner. Transmission of echocardiograms from the outreach site to the tertiary care site occurs in real time. Lakshadweep is a perfect example for the application of telemedicine since it is a group of islands located about 440kms away from the mainland, with a total population of about 60,000. We are successful in conducting telecardiology programs involving transferring electrocardiographs apart from cardiac consultation from various centers at Lakshadweep like IGH Kavaratti, Agatti etc and also with very remote centres like SNM Ley Ladakh, Civil hospital Shillong, etc.
The Amrita Mobile Telemedicine Unit (AMTU) is the first mobile telemedicine unit in the state of Kerala. The centrally air-conditioned AMTU has state of the art satellite-based videoconferencing capability and is equipped with a wide range of equipment permitting a large range of functions including color echocardiography, cardiac treadmill, gastroscopy, colonoscopy, retinal camera, ultrasonography, X-ray radiography, electrocardiography, biochemical testing with a semi auto analyzer, light microscopy and a digital photography. The output from these devices can all be transmitted to a specialty hospital (typically AIMS) for expert opinion.
The AMTU is equipped with a state of the art video conferencing unit connected to an extended C band 1.8m antenna and control unit for uninterrupted telemedicine linkup in all weather conditions. It has the capability to connect to any health care center that has a telemedicine facility. It is also equipped with the Amrita Health Information System (AHIS) telemedicine suite for electronically storing and transmitting patient data including medical images. The AMTU allows a wide range of healthcare services to be delivered with minimal expertise and infrastructure at the peripheral end. It also ensures increased utilization of medical facilities, manpower and technology while minimizing maintenance costs since the need for fixed infrastructure and equipment can be avoided. From the patients perspective they benefit from easier access to advanced healthcare and specialty consultation, saving time and travel expenses. AMTU fulfilled its promises when it was successfully assisted in delivering health care at the Amrita medical center in Pampa at Sabarimala.
The VRCs envisage benefits of satellite technology to be made available to the rural masses of the country. Established in 2006, these centres have been providing a variety of services such as teleconferencing in medical and agricultural fields, IT related programs and computer training. A large number of people have realized benefits by participating in the programs organized at the centres. Employability of the residents of villages and empowerment of women have been enhanced through programs and talks organized regularly at these centres. Currently, AIMS have VRCs at Amritapuri, Puthiyacavu, Parippally, Kalpetta and Mananthavady (all in Kerala) and Ettimadai (Tamilnadu). The Expert Centres at Amrita Institute of Medical Sciences (AIMS), Kochi and at Amrita Vishwavidyapeetham headquarters at Ettimadai ensure that quality programmes on a regular basis are offered.
AIMS campus is well connected to the world of knowledge by our prestigious satellite networks. ISRO satellite network known as the edusat connects four of our main campuses (Ettimadai, AIMS, Amritapuri and Bangalore) of Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham in three states. The satellite link can make a two-way audio-video communication channel with a high bandwidth capability. Students from any of the Amrita campuses can not only attend, but can also interact in lectures taking place in other campuses. The high bandwidth satellite network has made Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham a fully interactive, multimedia capable, multi-disciplinary virtual university – the first of its kind in the nation without geographical constraints.
