Telemedicine diagnosis for fetal alcohol syndrome - The Manitoba experience

Abstract

The diagnosis of fetal alcohol syndrome has been possible, with increasing precision, since the original descriptions in the 1970s. Multidisciplinary diagnostic approaches have been recognized as most appropriate, although they are often not available. Telemedicine has been used in Canada over the same time period for a variety of diagnositc applications. Since 1999, funding by the Manitoba government has allowed the consolidation of services for children with prenatal alcohol exposure in Manitoba, and has allowed the development of a format for diagnosis using telemedicine. This paper describes the authors' experience with the above and offers observations that may be helpful to other programs that are focused on developing this format for the diagnosis of fetal alcohol syndrome.