Telemedicine
The RCC established Telemedicine in September 2004 with the help of Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) and CDAC, Trivandrum.
ACHIEVEMENTS
Established high bandwidth connectivity between Regional Cancer Centre, Thiruvananthapuram and its peripheral centres at Kollam, Kozhencherry, Ernakulam, Palakkad and Kannur using satellite communication. High quality Video Conferencing, Tele-pathology and Tele-radiology equipment and software required for interfacing these equipment have been developed.
Follow-up of Patients through Telemedicine
Cancer is a disease, which needs prolonged treatment and lifelong follow-up. To avoid unnecessary patient travel, RCC has introduced monthly follow-up clinics at its five sub-centres. Patients returning home after the initial treatment at the RCC can communicate their post-treatment problems and results of investigations from nodal centres. The doctors at the RCC also render advice for terminally ill patients who require only palliative care. The RCC has 5 peripheral centres with essential infrastructure at Kollam, Ernakulam (Kochi), Palakkad, Kozhencherry and Kannur. Besides helping patients for follow-up, the online facility also provides counseling. Apart from RCC patients, the public as well as doctors of other institutions can also avail themselves of ONCONET services.
Tele-pathology Clinic
Tele-pathology uses telecommunication technology to transmit data and pathology images to and from remote centres for diagnosis, education and consultation. A tele pathology system consists of a high-resolution video camera mounted on conventional microscope to capture digital images of pathologic slides and a telecommunication set-up to transmit images to a remote centre. The RCC conducts regular tele-pathologic consultations between Kannur and Kochi Early Cancer Detection Centres. RCC also seeks expert opinions on pathology from expert centres in USA like Mayo Clinic, UICC, Armed Forces Institute of Pathology and Tata Memorial Centre, Mumbai.
Telemedicine Centres
KANNUR
(March, June, September, December) - 2nd Saturday
Early Cancer Detection Centre
Malabar Cancer Care Society
Near Ashoka Hospital
South Bazar
Kannur, Kerala
Pin – 670002
Phone Number - +91 497 2705309
KOCHI / ERNAKULAM
(All Months) - 3rd Saturday
Early Cancer Detection Centre
KaloorÂ
Ernakulam, Kerala
Pin - 682017
Phone Number - +91 484 2347531
KARUNAGAPALLY
(January, March, May, July, September, November) - 2nd Saturday
Karunagapally Cancer Registry
Puthanthura P O
Neendakara, Kollam
Pin - 691588
Phone Number - +91 476 2685203 / 2181133
PALAKKAD
(January, April, July, October) - 2nd Saturday
Early Cancer Detection Centre
Kanjikkode West
Palakkad
Kerala
PIN-678623
Phone Number - +91 491 2566124
KOZHENCHERRY
(All Months) - 1st Saturday
District Cancer Centre
District Hospital
Kozhencherry
Pathanamthitta
PIN - 689641
Phone number - +91 468 2279001