iPath |
Open Source Telemedicine Application
iPath is an open source framework hybrid web- and e-mail-based telemedicine platform. Using iPath, one is able to store medical cases with attached images and other documents in closed user groups. Within these groups, users can review cases, and write comments and diagnosis. In addition, they can subscribe to receive automatic e-mail notification, for example, when a new comment is added to one of their cases or a new case is entered into a group.
Technically, iPath is a web application written in PHP, an open source web language that is widely used, as it is especially suited for web development and can be embedded into HTML (hypertext markup language). From a functional viewpoint, iPath is somewhere between a content management system and a group-ware tool. All users are organised into several discussion groups. Each discussion group has at least one moderator who can assign other users to the group and delete incorrect data. Thus, the system does not need to be administered centrally as every group is self-administrating.
A very useful function of iPath, particularly for areas with limited resources, is the automatic e-mail import. Users specify a group into which they would like to store cases sent by e-mail and then send cases to iPath as an ordinary e-mail from any e-mail client. When they send the e-mail they type the case title as the e-mail subject, the clinical description as the main text and attach images as files. The cases are automatically imported by iPath into the specified group.
The iPath software was released as an open source project for use by regional networks and other projects. The code is freely available and can be obtained from sourceforge.net. However, its operation requires a LAMP environment (Linux/Apache/mySQL/PHP) to be run and expertise in server operation and maintenance to assure a sustainable operation.