3 May 2011
Hi.
As I write this particular blog I am in Tampa, Florida at the invitation of the American Telemedicine Association (ATA) to attend their annual 3 day conference.
One of reasons for being here is to sign a Memorandum of Understanding between the ATA and TSA that will form the basis of closer working between the two associations.
This is a further sign of the TSA being recognised as a leading player in the international arena. It is an opportunity to share how the UK Market in both telecare and telehealth is developing, as well as learning what is happening in other countries and see whether it can be applied in the UK. I am also seeking to promote international membership of TSA as well as international recognition of our Telecare Code of Practice.
Telehealth is well established in the US, particularly through adoption by its Veterans Association, but still faces similar problems to those we are experiencing in the UK, namely how does it become a fully integrated element of healthcare. Interestingly telecare is very, very small.
We tend to think of our conference as being a major event - and it is within the European arena - but the ATA is on a totally different scale, with over 4,000 delegates and 250 exhibitors. I have been able to spot some goods ideas that we can adapt and implement for our own conference, but there are others where I think they could gain from seeing how we bring our conference together. This has reinforced to me that as an industry we have a conference and an industry message that we can be proud of.
The plenary speaker on the first day of conference was Dr Martin Cooper who developed the first portable cellular phone. He brought with him a model of the first cellular phone and for those old enough to remember 1973 it was a stark reminder of how much technology has advanced in the last 30 + years. The unit weighed 2 and a half pounds and had a battery life of 20 minutes (not that this is a particular problem as you would struggle to hold it up to your ear for that period of time). We want to devote part of our conference to the development of m-health so it was interesting to hear from Martin Cooper, now in his eighties but still developing personalised cellular applications, where this industry can go in the next 10-20 years. Prepare yourself now for the mobile implant!!!
What is clear from this conference is that globally the problems are similar - ageing population, lack of sufficient care professionals, increasing health and social care costs, BUT still a low and gradual uptake in alternative but beneficial technology alternatives.
Would like say I am now going to chill out on the Tampa waterfront where the temperature is a really nice 85 degrees but actually going back into another workshop. Honest!
Regards
Trevor Single
