A 12-year-old with end stage cancer, the child’s parents had recently moved her from the hospital to her home in the suburbs of Los Angeles. Some days later the girl’s breath quickened, and her father phoned the family’s hospice nurse. Please come, he said.

The nurse knew the visit would require more than four hours of her time: a two-hour drive in each direction, plus her time with the girl. Why don’t we connect over FaceTime, she asked. The father agreed, and they connected.

The nurse asked the father to move his daughter gently to her side, then to her back, to lift the child’s shirt. The nurse would ask: What do you see, what concerns you, and the father would explain. In this fashion the pair examined the girl --- the nurse on her computer, the father his iPad. Together they decided that the nurse’s presence was not necessary, that the child had more time.

Later, the father reported feeling comforted by the nurse. He appreciated her availability, the fact that she could see what he saw, and their ability to discuss it in real time.

Telemedicine has become a trend in America. Some hospitals have gone so far as to specially design telemedicine clinics. The room is staged like an office but with better lighting. There’s a nice desk for the clinician to sit behind, a computer situated stage left, and books in the background. A physician taking a video call from home might wear a pair of headphones, equipped with a mic --- to ensure whatever the patient says isn’t broadcast to anyone off-camera.

However, there is something more than the technology bit. According to David, the head of the telemedicine pilot the girl’s family had been part of, there are some people who are great in person and you put them on camera they’re a dead fish. “Some physicians are camera shy. For others, the physical isolation can actually help them be more empathetic.” He adds.

“My experience is that, once you get past some initial hurdles, you can maintain an intimate, immediate connection with patients that in some cases may be more useful than even in-person interactions,” David says.

First aid is emergency care for a victim of sudden illness or injury until more skilful medical treatment is available. It may save a life or improve certain vital signs including the pulse, temperature, a clear airway(气道), and breathing. In minor emergencies, first aid may prevent a victims’ condition from turning worse and provide relief from pain. First aid must be administered as quickly as possible. In the case of the critically injured, a few minutes can make a difference between complete recovery and loss of life.

First-aid measures depend upon a victim's needs and the provider’s level of knowledge and skill. Knowing what not to do in an emergency is as important as knowing what to do. Improperly moving a person with a neck injury, for example, can lead to permanent spinal(脊柱的) injury and paralysis(瘫痪).

Despite the variety of injuries possible, several principles of first aid apply to all emergencies. The first step is to call for professional medical help. The victim, if conscious(有意识的), should be reassured that medical aid has been requested, and asked for permission to provide any first aid. Next, assess the scene, asking other people or the injured person’s family or friends about details of the injury or illness, any care that may have already been given, and pre-existing conditions such as diabetes(糖尿病) or heart trouble. The victim should be checked for a medical bracelet(医用手环) or card that describes special medical condition. Unless the accident becomes unsafe or the victim may suffer further injury, do not move the victim.

First aid requires rapid assessment of victims to determine whether life-threatening condition exists. One method for evaluating a victim's condition is known by the acronym(首字母缩写词)ABC, which stands for:

A—Airway: Is it open and clear?

B—Breathing: Is the person breathing? Look, listen and feel for breathing.

C—Circulation: Is there a pulse? Is the person bleeding externally? Check skin colour and temperature for additional indications of circulation problems.

Israeli researchers say they have created the world's first three-dimensional, or 3D-printed heart using a patient's own cells. They described the experiment as "a major medical breakthrough." Tal Dvir, the lead researcher on the project, said in a statement that it was the first time that human cells had been used with 3D printing technology to successfully create a whole heart. Dvir added that the "printed" heart contains blood vessels which are needed to pump blood. The development marks a step forward for 3D printing in the medical field.

The researchers took samples of fatty tissue from patients. This material was then used to develop “ink” for the 3D printing process. First, the researchers created patches of tissue from the patient’s own cells. Later, they used that same process to create a small version of a whole heart. Using the patient’s own cells is important to reduce the risk that the body’s system to fight infection will reject a transplanted organ.

The goal, the researchers said, is to treat heart disease. The World Health Organization reports that heart disease is by far the leading cause of death worldwide. For patients with severe heart disease, a heart transplant is currently the main treatment available. The researchers hope their invention can help ease the demand for heart transplant donors.

Dvir says that the newly-created heart represents great progress. However, more research and development is needed to produce a fully operating, transplantable organ. One of the biggest challenges for the engineering team will be finding a way to create a human-sized heart.

Dvir said his team planned to transplant heart models designed for animals, possibly within the next year. He added that, for human use, “simpler organs” will likely be produced before hearts. “Maybe, in ten years, there will be organ printers in the finest hospitals around the world,” Dvir said. He hopes such methods will be used “routinely” to produce organs in the future.