A system for the delivery of remote obstetrical care by telepresence

This paper describes the development of a system to provide obstetrical care to remote and/or medically underserved areas. The ROC project is an attempt to develop new telemedicine hardware and software which will enable the provision of high quality obstetric care to individuals who are normally denied access to this care by reasons of distance, handicap, economics, or other causes. As broadband data communications links and increasingly powerful and affordable computing resources become widely available, the barriers of distance and economics will no longer prevent the provision of this care. Increased efficiency and access may also meet society's requirements for cost containment and productivity.