Michael Braukus
Headquarters, Washington, D.C.                                                   
October 12, 1993
(Phone:  202/358-1979)


RELEASE:  93-183

NASA PROGRAM TO HELP VICTIMS OF RUSSIAN EMERGENCY


     NASA has received a request from Russian physicians, treating 
victims of the recent emergency in Moscow, for medical assistance 
from U.S. clinicians.  These urgent medical consultations will use 
a previously established U.S./Russian satellite telemedicine 
program known as "Spacebridge to Moscow."

     Spacebridge to Moscow is a cooperative demonstration program 
between Russia and the United States to develop the use of 
telemedicine technologies and procedures.  The initial program 
sessions began in September and are scheduled biweekly over the 
next 8 months.  An emergency trauma care session was held Oct. 8, 
with another tentatively scheduled for this Friday (Oct. 15).

     Following the recent events in Russia, a request was made to 
the U.S. government that the scheduled sessions of Spacebridge to 
Moscow be reconfigured to conduct medical consultations on 
patients who sustained injuries over the past week.

     The Spacebridge to Moscow telemedicine demonstration project 
utilizes two-way interactive video between clinical consultants at 
the Moscow Clinical Hospital and four clinical sites in the United 
States.  The U.S. sites are the Uniformed Services University of 
Health Sciences, Bethesda, Md.;  Fairfax Hospital, Falls Church, 
Va.;  University of Texas Health Science Center, Houston;  and LDS 
Hospital, University of Utah, Salt Lake City.

     NASA first became involved in satellite telemedicine programs 
in the 1970s when a NASA satellite was used for medical 
consultation and health care delivery to remote sites in Alaska.  
In 1989, NASA initiated a telemedicine Spacebridge program to aid 
victims of the earthquake in Armenia.

     During that 2-month-long telemedicine program, approximately 
200 physicians in the United States and Armenia conducted 
consultations on more than 200 patients.  Many of those same U.S. 
physicians are participating in the current telemedicine program. 

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     The current telemedicine demonstration project is being 
conducted under the auspices of the 1992 Civil Space Agreement.  
While the telemedicine effort will assist NASA and the Russian 
Space Agency in developing systems and protocols for medical care 
of astronauts in space, it also will demonstrate how 
communications technology can improve the quality of health care 
for patients on Earth.  Additionally, it will provide 
opportunities for technical refinement in telemedicine 
technologies.

     The number of Spacebridge to Moscow telemedicine sessions 
devoted to urgent medical consultations will be coordinated with 
Russian physicians.  The previously scheduled sessions will resume 
after this activity.

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