Home visits via the internet: webcam-based neurological exams

Cyberspace neurology consultations. Are you ready for them? #MSBlog #MSResearch

Wood et al. Can a Low-Cost Webcam be Used for a Remote Neurological  Health Technol Inform. 2013;190:30-32.

Background: MS is the most common progressive neurological disorder of young adults affecting over 1 million persons worldwide. Despite the increased use of neuroimaging and other tools to measure MS morbidity, the neurological examination remains the primary method to document relapses and progression in disease.

Objectives: The goal of this study was to demonstrate the feasibility and validity of using a low-cost webcam for remote neurological examination in home-setting for MSers. 

Methods: Using cross-over design, 20 MSers were evaluated in-person and via remote televisit and results of the neurological evaluation were compared. 

Findings: Overall, the investigators found that agreement between face-to-face and remote EDSS evaluation was sufficient to provide clinically valid information. Another important finding of this study was high acceptance of MSers and their providers of using remote televisits for conducting neurological examinations at MSers homes.

Conclusions: The results of this study demonstrated potential of using low-cost webcams for remote neurological exam in MSers.


"This study shows that there is no original ideas. I have been wanting to do this exact study for several years. Unfortunately, the NHS IT and privacy rules and the EU data protection act prevent you using off the shelf free software for this type of study, for example Skype and Google Hangouts. You have to use very expensive proprietary software that only runs on the NHS servers. In other words you need to be shackled to your NHS computer. NHS rules in my opinion block innovation; any attempt to test or try adapting existing innovations for healthcare are trampled and killed by red tape. Most of us are so fatigued by NHS red tape that we don't bother trying new things. I am therefore not surprised that NHS is less productive that it was 20 years ago. The NHS needs a revolution; a new regulatory framework to allow its staff to innovate."

"Would you be prepared to see your neurologist  in cyberspace?"

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