Today I read an interesting article about a new telemedicine service A Doctor on Deck. I have had experience with telemedicine on ships for years, as I used to sail on French flagged ships where ECG machines that transmitted data to the seafarer hospital in France have been a requirement in the medical chest dotation for many years. And arguably, it can save lives. Should similar be introduced more widespread in an update to ILO recommendations?
What pleased me with this latest technology is that it is developed in Africa, and aimed at fishers. Fishing vessels often do not have anywhere near the medical equipment that commercial ships have, nor crew with higher levels of medical training above first aid. Such technology can really improve medical care of fishers I feel, and save lives potentially.
Does anyone else have any experiences on telemedicine at sea, or any thoughts on it?
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On offshore vessels, depending on vessel size, project, client requirements and size of the marine spread, additional higher level medical assistance is borne. From nurses, offshore medics, GPs to specific hyperbaric medicine practitioners for example. On a great many of these vessels, if not all, remote medical services are still employed. This could be at a base level remote automated assistance that can, in more serious cases, lead to a voice or live video streamed consultation. It can also be an additional service of ECG report response on different levels from non emergency up to a request for an immediate response.
Escalation of serious conditions such as previously undiagnosed heart conditions have been presented and assistance gained in a far quicker time frame due to these intervention services. Expediting a medevac or early return to shore is a priority in remote / maritime scenarios and undoubtedly saves lives.
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