Telemedicine Between Australia and Antarctica: 1911-1995

Telemedicine, in one form or another, has long been a cornerstone of Australian Antarctic medical practice. The extreme remoteness, difficulty of evacuation and inherent limitations of a sole doctor all mean that the ability to communicate with distant health professionals is extremely desirable. For many years such communication was achieved through the use of radio, but with the introduction of satellite communications to Antarctica in the 1980s a more sophisticated system became possible, with a much wider variety of applications. In spite of recent advances, written and oral communication remain the most important tools. However, the ability to transmit digital images has also proven of great value, especially in the field of radiology.