Telemedicine via satellite to support offshore oil platforms.

On any one day, approximately 15,000-28,000 oil industry personnel are employed in the North Sea oil and gas industry. First aid in this remote environment is provided by non-medical staff on the rigs. Remote specialist advice via videoconferencing should improve the quality of offshore health care and reduce avoidable medical evacuations. Satellite communications and videoconferencing equipment was installed on the 'Alwyn North' oil platform, with medical advice provided via a call centre in Milan. Over a nine-month period, trial telemedicine links were conducted approximately twice per week. The three onshore physicians were very satisfied on each occasion with communications and diagnostic data image quality, including the ultrasound screening carried out by the rig provider. Remote specialist advice via videoconferencing should reduce unnecessary and/or untimely patient evacuation to hospital or onshore for medical assessment.