Zhuhai High-Tech Zone People's Hospital in Tangjiawan Town became the first Grade-II Class-A hospital in the province to use 5G technology for remote diagnosis and treatment on May 6.

On the same day, China Telecom Zhuhai Branch and Huawei, China's 5G innovation leader, agreed to jointly make the hospital a 5G-enpowered smart medical center with pioneering applications in emergency rescue and ultrasound exams.

On-site demonstration of a patient's remote ultrasound had experts at Guangdong No 2 Provincial People's Hospital in Guangzhou, some 100 km (62 miles) away, viewing live ultrasound images and position device probes using two-way audio-visual calls. The parties on each end of the procedure conversed and interacted simultaneously.

Tele-guided ultrasound imaging [Photo courtesy zh_gxq]

The system was also used for distance learning as doctors at the Zhuhai facility (also known as Guangdong No 2 Provincial People's Hospital Zhuhai) were taught correct operation methods through live ultrasound streaming. The images reached 4K ultra-high definition, and the frame-rate was kept smooth and stable thanks to 5G wide broadband, high speed, and no delay.

The loss of any frame of the ultrasound image during transmission could cause misdiagnosis. Therefore, patients must traditionally undergo on-site ultrasound examination to be sure of their diagnosis. Now, with 5G+ telemedicine technology, provincial experts can do ultrasound in real time without having to transport patients or delay care, according to Dr Zhang Haichun, deputy head of Guangdong No 2 Provincial People's Hospital Zhuhai.