Guardian 24/7 Partners with Paul Chester Children’s Hope Foundation to Bring Satellite Medical Support to Children in Africa

NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Paul Chester Children’s Hope Foundation (PCCHF) is partnering with Guardian 24/7, a telemedicine company founded by military physician Dr. Sean O’Mara, to bring greater medical access to patients in Kenya.

“We are delighted to be partnering with Guardian 24/7 and MTN to utilize technology to bring a greater level of medical care to patients during our medical mission to Africa”

Beginning January 21, 2011, as part of PCCHF’s medical mission to Africa, doctors on the ground in Kenya will utilize Guardian 24/7’s innovative medical solution to connect with doctors in the U.S. -- bringing Presidential-level medical care to the most vulnerable patients in rural locations.

Guardian 24/7’s U.S.–based team of former White House physicians will consult and connect to PCCHF’s doctors in Kenya via an AMD Dispatch Remote Diagnostic terminal. The lightweight, portable device is easy to transport, making it a perfect fit for remote locations. MTN Government Services will provide the satellite connection linking doctors in the U.S. and Kenya.

PCCHF’s co-founder, Dr. Bill Chester, is no stranger to making the seemingly impossible possible. His creation of a highly advanced, self-sustained solar surgical clinic in Laikipia, Kenya has helped thousands of patients, many of them children.

“We are delighted to be partnering with Guardian 24/7 and MTN to utilize technology to bring a greater level of medical care to patients during our medical mission to Africa,” said Dr. Chester. “To reach our clinic it takes 2 ½ days of travel – making it difficult for some qualified physicians to reach vulnerable patients. This integrated technology solution will allow PCCHF’s team of medical experts on-site to consult with top specialists in the U.S. to treat some of the more difficult cases.”

Telemedicine enables medical professionals in disparate locations to connect for first-class care, especially in remote areas where facilities and personnel are limited. Through telemedicine, a patient’s vital signs can be monitored by all connected physicians as if they were in a hospital room.

Dr. O’Mara invented the concept when he provided medical support to President Clinton while serving in the U.S. Army. Dr. O’Mara realized that the idea of telemedicine could be used to bring the most advanced medical technology to the most far reaching locations. Thus, Guardian 24/7 committed itself to using telemedicine to provide the best possible medical care for individuals anywhere in the world.

“This is the first time telemedicine has been used in such a mobile fashion out in the field,” said Jonathan Frye, CEO of Guardian 24/7. “PCCHF’s team can literally set up a pop-up clinic and in minutes, connect with Guardian 24/7’s team of physicians in the U.S. and all of the doctors involved will share the same information and vital signs to treat patients. Our integrated telemedicine solution allows physicians to provide remote care as well as all the record-keeping that goes along with that.”

The groundbreaking technology and integration will benefit doctors in the field by providing better treatment plans. It will also mean better care for more children and their families at a fraction of the cost. By utilizing telemedicine, it allows for flexibility and diversity of specialty expertise never before afforded on a medical mission.

About Paul Chester Children’s Hope Foundation:

PCCHF provides vital assistance to improve the lives and well being of families in developing countries. PCCHF’s medical outreach programs bring critical health resources and treatments to remote communities, harnessing the expertise of our volunteer medical professionals. Co-founded by Dr. Bill Chester, PCCHF honors the legacy of Paul Chester (1987-2003), a bright young man deeply committed to helping young people. To find out more, log on to www.pcchf.org. You can also follow this mission on Facebook.

About Guardian 24/7:

Founded by former White House physicians and doctors for advanced medical planning, Guardian 24/7 offers medical protection previously available only to the President of the United States. We work with your physicians to design a system perfectly suited to your unique needs. For more information, go to www.guardian247.com.

About MTN Government Services:

MTN Satellite Communications (MTN) is the leading global service provider of communications, connectivity and content services to remote locations around the world. For more information, go to www.mtnsat.com.