Telemedicine is a method by which specialist doctors can examine, investigate, monitor and treat patients in remote areas through satellite video-conferencing. Medical images, patient records and output from medical devices can be transmitted, as well as live two-way audio and video. Specialists can advise, online, doctors or paramedics at the patient’s end, and if necessary even guide them in surgery.
AIMS has been providing compassionate care through telemedicine since 2003, servicing remote islands such as Lakshadweep and Andaman-Nicobar, as well as Leh-Ladakh in Kashmir. Now, more than 60 centers in India are connected from Amrita. Amrita has also used the technology to provide specialty medical support during times of natural disasters, including the 2004 Indian Ocean Tsunami and 2008 Bihar floods.