Telemedicine and Videoconferencing Services provides videoconferencing services between various Carolinas HealthCare System hospitals and clinics on a daily basis. These services are available to all hospital staff, including physicians, nurses, administrators and general staff.

Programming includes distance learning courses for nursing, administrative meetings and conferences, patient case conferences and tumor boards, CME-accredited physician grand rounds, statewide Area Health Education (AHEC) meetings, physician training, and general staff education conferences. Transmissions can be recorded, edited and copied for future viewing. National and international meetings and conferences can also be held using ISDN technology.

Telemedicine provides satellite downlink services on a monthly basis for events such as accredited health education programming.

Telemedicine supports the Carolinas Laparoscopic and Advanced Surgery Program (CLASP) with live surgical transmissions. CLASP is the region's first center to specialize in minimally invasive surgery. Telemedicine transmits live Laparoscopic surgery cases to other Hospitals across the US and Internationally.

Systems and Technology
In use are a variety of videoconferencing room systems manufactured by Polycom utilizing the new H.264 video algorithm at 384k. A Polycom MGC-50 bridge is the central hub for connecting Carolinas HealthCare System affiliate hospitals and clinics together using H.320 and H.323 protocol. Carolinas HealthCare System incorporates ISDN communication lines as the network of connectivity, as well as the CHS Data Network for Video over IP connections.

North Carolina Locations

• Anson Community Hospital, Wadesboro, NC
• Carolinas Medical Center, Charlotte, NC
• Eastland Family Practice, Charlotte, NC
• Carolinas Medical Center-University, Charlotte, NC
• Carolinas Medical Center-Union, Monroe
• Union Family Practice, Monroe, NC
• Kings Mountain Hospital, Kings Mountain, NC
• Cleveland Regional Medical Center, Shelby, NC
• Watauga Medical Center, Boone, NC
• Behavioral Health Center CMC Randolph, Charlotte, NC
• Carolinas Medical Center-Lincoln, Lincolnton, NC
• Carolinas Medical Center - Mercy
• Carolinas Medical Center - Pineville
• Grace Hospital, Morganton, NC

For information, call 704-355-8633 or e-mail Telemedicine.