TELE-MEDICINE

Presented by

Shyam.s.sI year m.sC nursing

Telemedicine is the art of sending medical data, which includes previous histories, prescriptions, all types of reports like X-rays, CT scan images, pathological reports etc. through a communication system.

Telemedicine is the use of medical information exchanged from one site to another via electronic communications to improve patients' health status.

Definitions of TelemedicineTelemedicine means literally medicine at a distance.

The World Health Organization (WHO) describes telemedicine as:“the practice of medical care using interactive audiovisual and data communications including medical care delivery, diagnosis, consultation and treatment, as well as education and the transfer of medical data.”

The Institution of medicine defines telemedicine as: “the use of electronic information and communications to provide and support health care when distance separates the participant.”

Telemedicine is the combined use of telecommunications and computer technologies to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of health care service by liberating caregivers from traditional constraints of place and time and by empowering consumers to make informed choices in a competitive marketplace.

- Bauer and Ringel  

Broadly, telemedicine involves the use of modern information technology, especially two-way interactive audio and video telecommunications, computers and telemetry, to deliver health services to remote patients and to facilitate information exchange between primary care physicians and specialists at some distances from each other.

- Bashshur

Types of telemedicine 

Telemedicine can be broken into three main categories: Store-and-forward

Store-and-forward telemedicine involves acquiring medical data (like medical images, biosignals etc) and then transmitting this data to a doctor or medical specialist at a convenient time for assessment offline.

Remote monitoring

Remote monitoring, also known as self-monitoring/testing, enables medical professionals to monitor a patient remotely using various technological devices.

Interactive telemedicine

Interactive telemedicine services provide real-time interactions between patient and provider, to include phone conversations, online communication and home visits.

Benefits and Uses of Telemedicine

Telemedicine is most beneficial for populations living in isolated communities and remote regions and is currently being applied in virtually all medical domains.

Telemedicine is useful as a communication tool between a general practitioner and a specialist available at a remote location.

MEDIA OF COMMUNICATION IN TELEMEDICINE:  Telephone lines

ISDN (Integrated Service Digital Network) lines

Satellite communication

FUTURE TRENDS IN TELEMEDICINE

In India, it has started developing slowly and in the next few years many people are expected to be benefited by telemedicine.

Telemedicine is also expected to be faster in India due to private sector intervention in the telecom area, which will provide fiber optic links, and hence we will be having a much error free and speedier access.