Better help for patients

From left: Lars Vorland (Western Norway Regional Health Authority) and Inge Lønning watch a demonstration of how an orthopaedic surgeon can advise on treatment through the use of digital x-rays and videoconferencing.

On Tuesday 27 February 2007, the Norwegian parliament's Standing Committee on Health and Care Services visited the Sonjatun health centre. There, the politicians were treated to a glimpse of what the future may hold for Norway's health sector.

The health centre is undergoing conversion into a district medical centre (DMS), which can treat patients who would otherwise have been sent to a hospital.

But the process taking place in the northern region of Troms involves more than renovation of the buildings. They are also introducing telemedicine to improve the health services that they can offer to the local community.

Cuts out a drive of 460 kilometres

Since May last year, 1800 patients have had x-rays taken at Sonjatun.  The radiographer, who comes from the Department of Radiography at the hospital, takes an x-ray of the fracture. The result is immediately available on the computer system at the University Hospital of Northern Norway (UNN).

"The quality of the digital images is first-class, and we get a rapid and professional response from the specialists at the hospital to tell us whether the patient should be admitted to the hospital or can be treated here in Nordreisa."

Roarsen says that with this system, most patients avoid having to travel to Tromsø for treatment of the fracture. And the patients are delighted with the service.

"The older the patients, the less they want to travel to Tromsø to have x-rays taken and assessed there. After all, we are talking about a drive of 230 kilometres [143 miles], or three and a half hours, each way," Roarsen points out.