Decentralized special training in pulmonary medicine. A project using telemedicine

In arctic Norway, where there is a lack of specialists in pulmonary medicine two postgraduate students, already qualified as specialists in internal medicine at Troms? Regional Hospital, applied to continue their training at their respective local hospitals. The regional hospital in Troms? has a long tradition of telemedicine, with network links to local hospitals in the region, and is equipped for interactive consultation and the bilateral transmission of x-rays and video recordings, and digital transmission of x-rays. Accordingly, supported by their supervisor, the two postgraduate students applied to the committee for postgraduate education in pulmonary medicine to have a year's work at their respective local hospitals, supervised via the telemedicine facilities, accepted as equivalent to a six-month module of the normal syllabus. The project was approved and executed as planned. The registrars, who were responsible for pulmonary service at their local hospitals, served four days a month at the regional hospital, and their supervisor visited the local hospitals one day each month. All internal education at the regional hospital was made available by means of a weekly interactive televised link-up, x-rays being displayed on screen as transmitted digitally; bronchoscopies were shown by video, and ad hoc tutorials arranged as needed. Evaluated by the national committee, the project was found satisfactory, and the registrars were duly qualified.