Telemedical conference between IBMP and Central Clinical Hospital (CCH) of RAS

Telemedical conference between IBMP and Central Clinical Hospital (CCH) of RAS photo: IBMP/Oleg Voloshin

The Mars-500 crew continues their “flight” to home planet. Their coming back is still far, so all aspects of their health are under close attention of medical specialists. Video telemedical conference was held on June 14. During this conference organizers of experiment discussed with leading doctors of Central Clinical Hospital of RAS (CCH RAS) the results of last detailed medical examination of the crew.

Telemedical consulting technologies got into clinical practice mostly due to space medicine that uses them in different variants during more than 50 years. And our conference also was held as usual clinical work. Project Director, IBMP Deputy Director B.V. Morukov informed about the factors that effected on the crew on this stage of the flight.

Chief doctor I.V. Kovachevich presented information about the health state of the crew. Chief operating officer A.V. Suvorov presented data obtained by special research methods.

Leading specialists of CCH RAS V.N. Ardashev, A.A. Yudin, A.E. Myakisheva and others took part in discussing of presented information and in joint coordination of further tactics of medical support. They agreed to organize meeting for further discussion closer to the date of “landing” so that not only to discuss current health state of conquerors of virtual Mars, but also to coordinate rehabilitation actions.

Video-conference telemedical connection is one of the important support elements of experiment, so it could be used at any time if necessary. Nevertheless we hope that planned discussions will be enough.

After all, there are significant differences between our sessions and usual clinical videoconferences. Patients – crewmembers – could not participate in medical concilium. As First Deputy Director of IBMP O.I.Orlov explained, flight autonomy, significant delay of signal transfer to spacecraft and back to Earth did not allow to rely merely on telemedical technologies of interactive communication with the crew. It is necessary not only to use experience accumulated in space and clinical practice but also to form new methodical and technological approaches to information support of future space programs on the basis of modern achievements of telemedicine and medical informatics with the use of prognostic complexes and systems of decision making support. Organizers of experiment believe that telemedical technologies as “intellectual telemedical circuit” will become core of future medical support system for interplanetary missions. And specialists find further steps just in this direction in the frame of Mars-500 Project.