Cutting argues that screen images of sick children are good enough to train those who have to assess sick children.1 Most parents (even the most socially deprived) now have access to mobile phones with video recording facilities that may be transmitted immediately through the mobile phone network. If screen images are good enough for teaching, they may be good enough to aid assessment.
Centralised of out of hours services could easily and inexpensively be enhanced to permit parents to transmit video images of sick children for assessment by a suitably trained clinician.
Modern technology in the form of video clips should play a part not only in training but also in treatment.
Competing interests: None declared.
References
- 1.Cutting WAM. Video clip is worth 1000 words. BMJ 2007;335:527 (15 September.) [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]