By
Rebecca Gibson |
MSC Cruises has partnered with Italy’s Giannina Gaslini Paediatric Institute to become the first cruise operator to offer guests a 24/7 paediatric telemedicine service onboard its fleet.
Doctors onboard the line’s 12 ships will be able to use new telemedicine technology and satellite services to consult specialist paediatricians at the Gaslini Institute, which is located in Genoa, to seek second opinions or carry out procedures such as remote diagnosis, radiology and monitoring.
“MSC Cruises is a family-owned company and we strongly believe in caring for the health and safety of our guests onboard, with particular attention to younger travellers, who can require help and treatment quite different from other age groups,” said Gianni Onorato, CEO of MSC Cruises. “Paediatric telemedicine is an addition to other existing services on our ships, such as teleradiology and teleconsultation, to ensure we can respond to any need during cruise holidays.”
The telemedicine technology will be managed by Carestream, which has developed a platform to enable requests for remote consultations to be made easily regardless of the ship’s location. This will enable Gaslini’s clinicians to diagnose and refer patients quickly.
“The expertise of our specialists is being made available beyond the walls of the Gaslini,” said the Paolo Petralia, director general of the Gaslini Institute. “This enables onboard doctors to confirm their diagnoses and treatments using a cutting-edge system of remote image and data transmission. All this reaffirms the Gaslini Institute’s commitment to offer the best care everywhere while developing the most advanced and efficient means of care and IT.”