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NeoReviews Mar 2019Telemedicine is fast becoming integrated into health care as a way to increase access for patients, particularly across the urban/rural divide. Use of telemedicine in... (Review)
Review
Telemedicine is fast becoming integrated into health care as a way to increase access for patients, particularly across the urban/rural divide. Use of telemedicine in neonatology is a newer, yet rapidly expanding modality. This review outlines the history of telemedicine, the evolution of its current uses in neonatology, requirements for starting a telemedicine program, and potential future uses.
Topics: History, 20th Century; History, 21st Century; Humans; Infant, Newborn; Neonatology; Telemedicine
PubMed: 31261049
DOI: 10.1542/neo.20-3-e113 -
Sleep Medicine Clinics Sep 2020Telemedicine is about more than simply using audio-visual technology to care for patients, but rather an opportunity to fundamentally improve patient access, quality,... (Review)
Review
Telemedicine is about more than simply using audio-visual technology to care for patients, but rather an opportunity to fundamentally improve patient access, quality, efficiencies, and experience. Regarding sleep medicine, it has the potential to drive sleep medicine's evolution. By enabling care across geographies and facilitating population-based management, sleep medicine is poised to take advantage of telemedicine capabilities. In this introductory chapter, we highlight issues related to sleep telemedicine, while providing a framework in which to approach this transformational journey thoughtfully. We thereby set the stage for the individual chapters in this edition of Sleep Medicine Clinics.
Topics: Humans; Quality of Health Care; Sleep Wake Disorders; Telemedicine
PubMed: 32762967
DOI: 10.1016/j.jsmc.2020.05.005 -
Annual Review of Biomedical Engineering 1999This paper reviews the emergence of telemedicine and its recent expansion and use within the healthcare industry. Through this review, several examples of telemedicine... (Review)
Review
This paper reviews the emergence of telemedicine and its recent expansion and use within the healthcare industry. Through this review, several examples of telemedicine within a variety of applications provide a broad context to discuss the challenges and opportunities facing the emergence of e-medicine. These examples provide snapshots of a teleradiology system used by the military, teleconsultations used in neurosurgery and hemodialysis, and home telemedicine used in diabetes care. Based on the discussion of telemedicine's history and expansion and the examples provided, a framework is offered for understanding the evolution of telemedicine applications through four stages. These stages include: (a) development of basic technological capabilities, (b) development of relevant applications, (c) the integration of technical applications within a complex environment, and (d) transformation of the operating environment. Implications for this framework are discussed.
Topics: Biomedical Engineering; Blood Glucose; Diabetes Mellitus, Type 1; Humans; Neurosurgery; Remote Consultation; Renal Dialysis; Telemedicine; Teleradiology
PubMed: 11701501
DOI: 10.1146/annurev.bioeng.1.1.589 -
Survey of Ophthalmology 1999Technology to create and move multimedia medical information is creating alternatives to physically transporting patients and health care professionals. Teletechnology... (Review)
Review
Technology to create and move multimedia medical information is creating alternatives to physically transporting patients and health care professionals. Teletechnology is a physician extender, both supplementing and reinventing traditional health care delivery systems. The potential of comprehensive teleophthalmology is compelling. This article provides a historical perspective of telemedicine, describes various teleophthalmology systems, and surveys teleophthalmology in clinical consultation, research, and education programs around the world. It also discusses basic issues in applying teleophthalmology to public health.
Topics: History, 20th Century; Humans; Ophthalmology; Telemedicine
PubMed: 10466589
DOI: 10.1016/s0039-6257(99)00059-4 -
Journal of Telemedicine and Telecare 1997The University Hospital of Tromsø has been involved in a variety of telemedicine activities since the late 1980s, including teleradiology, telepathology,... (Review)
Review
The University Hospital of Tromsø has been involved in a variety of telemedicine activities since the late 1980s, including teleradiology, telepathology, teledermatology, remote endoscopy, remote gastroscopy, teleechocardiography, transmission of electrocardiograms, telepsychiatry, electronic delivery of laboratory results and distance learning for health professionals. Since 1993 the department of telemedicine in Tromsø has been designated the national centre of competence in telemedicine. With a wealth of experience to draw from, a critical number of health-care professionals exposed to and using telemedicine routinely, the support of the Norwegian health authoriues, a national centre guiding telemedicine research, no licensing barriers within the country, nationwide ISDN and reimbursement for telemedicine services, the future of telemedicine in Norway looks promising.
Topics: History, 20th Century; Humans; Norway; Remote Consultation; State Medicine; Telemedicine; Telemetry; Telepathology; Teleradiology
PubMed: 9139756
DOI: 10.1258/1357633971930139 -
The Journal of Allergy and Clinical... Feb 2020Telemedicine (TM) has become a popular method of accessing medical services between providers and patients and is viewed as a cost-effective alternative to more... (Review)
Review
Telemedicine (TM) has become a popular method of accessing medical services between providers and patients and is viewed as a cost-effective alternative to more traditional episodic face-to-face encounters. TM overcomes 2 barriers that patients face when seeking health care: distance and time. It is as effective as in-person visits for outpatient treatment of asthma, and it is a convenient way to provide inpatient consultations for patients when the allergist practices outside of the hospital. TM also has been used to manage patients with asthma in schools. Patients tend to be as satisfied with TM or they prefer TM over in-person visits, but infrequently they do prefer in-person visits. In addition to virtual visits using TM, there are several emerging technologies that are relevant to the practice of allergy/immunology including electronic diaries (eg, symptoms and medication use), wearable technology (eg, to monitor activity and vital signs), remote patient monitoring (eg, environmental exposures and medication adherence) as well as electronic medical records augmented with clinical decision support. We believe that the use of TM, particularly when combined with information technologies such as electronic health records, has the potential to cause a transformational change in the way care is delivered by altering the process of interaction between patient and provider. TM addresses the shortage of allergy specialists in rural and underserved urban communities and facilitates patient access to allergy services. As patients take more control of their health care, use of TM is likely to increase because a large part of the move to adopt TM is driven by patient preference.
Topics: Allergy and Immunology; Humans; Telemedicine
PubMed: 32035604
DOI: 10.1016/j.jaci.2019.12.903 -
Health Devices Mar 1999Telemedicine--the use of telecommunications and computer technology to provide medical information and services at a distance--is growing in popularity. Because of the... (Review)
Review
Telemedicine--the use of telecommunications and computer technology to provide medical information and services at a distance--is growing in popularity. Because of the rapid advances being made in the technology, more and more clinical applications can now be performed via telemedicine. However, the decision to adopt telemedicine should be made only if a clinical need for this technology can be demonstrated. And successful implementation and operation depend on specifically designing the technical infrastructure--that is, the computer hardware and software and the telecommunications system--to meet this clinical need. But even more important is making sure that everyone involved in such a program, including clinicians, telecommunications suppliers, and patients, understands the objectives, benefits, and particular requirements of telemedicine. In this Guidance Article, we provide an overview of the issues surrounding telemedicine. We present examples of successful telemedicine programs, along with guidance for facilities considering programs of their own. We also outline the barriers to successful implementation. And we discuss how, once a telemedicine program is in place, facilities can evaluate the effect of the program on their delivery of healthcare. In supplementary articles, we discuss the technology used for telemedicine and provide a list of telemedicine resources for readers who wish to learn more about the subject.
Topics: Confidentiality; Diffusion of Innovation; Forecasting; Humans; Malpractice; Planning Techniques; Program Development; Program Evaluation; Technology Assessment, Biomedical; Telemedicine; United States
PubMed: 10212772
DOI: No ID Found -
Journal of Telemedicine and Telecare 2000Telemedicine in Armenia began with the US Telemedicine Space Bridge programme, which was introduced following the disastrous earthquake in 1988. More recently... (Review)
Review
Telemedicine in Armenia began with the US Telemedicine Space Bridge programme, which was introduced following the disastrous earthquake in 1988. More recently educational programmes have been established between the School of Medicine at Boston University and the Emergency Hospital in Yerevan. There are also telemedicine activities involving the Internet, for example at the Diagnostica Medical Centre in Yerevan. The future integration of telemedicine and telehealth services within the health services in Armenia will produce significant benefits. Current telemedicine activities in Armenia represent models for collaborative projects in other former Soviet republics with the aim of providing greater access to health-care at higher quality and lower cost.
Topics: Armenia; Delivery of Health Care; Humans; Internet; Telemedicine
PubMed: 11070587
DOI: 10.1258/1357633001935897 -
Journal of Telemedicine and Telecare 1996A committee was established by the International Telecommunication Union in 1994 to study telemedicine, with particular reference to developing countries. A... (Review)
Review
A committee was established by the International Telecommunication Union in 1994 to study telemedicine, with particular reference to developing countries. A questionnaire was used to gather data. Fifty-eight responses were received, two-thirds from developing countries. In most developing countries the user did not pay for the telemedicine service, at least not directly. There were few instances of a commercial telemedicine service, and in most countries the telemedicine service was subsidized by the government or another party. The telemedicine 'value chain' describes how equipment suppliers, telecommunications operators and health-care professionals deliver their products or services to the client, who is eventually the ultimate user. Quite different configurations are conceivable, and an analysis of what could be a sustainable, cost-effective value chain in developing countries is required. It is clear that the rapidly growing interest in telemedicine challenges the leaders of the medical establishment to rethink the ways they provide their services and to address the medical needs of areas where such services are absent or in short supply.
Topics: Cost-Benefit Analysis; Developing Countries; Humans; International Cooperation; Technology Transfer; Telecommunications; Telemedicine
PubMed: 9375065
DOI: 10.1177/1357633X9600200201 -
Annals of Internal Medicine Jul 1998The term telemedicine encompasses a wide range of telecommunications and information technologies and many clinical applications, although interactive video may be the... (Review)
Review
The term telemedicine encompasses a wide range of telecommunications and information technologies and many clinical applications, although interactive video may be the most common medium. The first telemedicine programs were established almost 40 years ago, but the technology has grown considerably in the past decade. Despite the expansion of telemedicine, the volume of patients receiving services that use the technology remains relatively low (about 21000 in 1996). In part, this reflects the lack of a consistent coverage and payment policy and concerns about licensure, liability, and other issues. A considerable amount of federal funding has supported telemedicine in recent years, and legislators and federal, regional, and state policymakers are struggling with several crucial policy matters. Research on the effectiveness of telemedicine is somewhat limited, although the work that has been done thus far supports the hypothesis that, in general, the technology is medically effective. The cost-effectiveness of specific telemedicine applications has not yet been rigorously demonstrated.
Topics: Humans; Medical Laboratory Science; Public Policy; Reimbursement Mechanisms; Research; Telemedicine
PubMed: 9669971
DOI: 10.7326/0003-4819-129-2-199807150-00012