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What is telemedicine?. literally medicine at a distance" integration of computers, telecommunications, information, and medical care using computer technology to improve delivery of health care to rural and underserved populations. Benefits of telemedicine. better access to health care for the ge
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1. Using Computers for Health Care: Telemedicine Developments
2. What is telemedicine? literally “medicine at a distance”
integration of computers, telecommunications, information, and medical care
using computer technology to improve delivery of health care to rural and underserved populations
3. Benefits of telemedicine better access to health care for the geographically or socially isolated
lower costs for both hospital and patient
fewer referrals to consultants
improved medical education
4. What makes telemedicine possible? computer technology
digital imaging
videoconferencing
remote monitoring
networking and telecommunications
local networks
Interne
5. Internet technology created in 1969 at UCLA by US Department of Defense (4 computers)
expanded to include 50 research sites by 1972
interconnected with other private and public networks during 1970s and 1980s
currently a privately run system
6. Internet technology World-Wide Web (WWW)
invented by Swiss physicists in 1989
access improved through development of browsers (Mosaic, Netscape, Internet Explorer)
usefulness improved through development of search engines (Yahoo, Infoseek, Alta Vista)
growing in popularity (53.5 million US adults)
7. Taking advantage of technology for medical care medical informatics
computerized patient records (history, insurance claim processing)
integrated information management systems
expert systems for advice or warnings
on-line journals and research reports
8. Taking advantage of technology for medical care telemedicine
accessing or sharing records over distance
teleradiology
videoconferencing
home health monitoring
9. Is telemedicine feasible? early projects failed due to poor planning and lack of financial support
new technology has renewed interest
successful programs exist (see Hamit)
Texas
North Carolina
Georgia
Kansas
10. Non-technical obstacles to telemedicine development reluctance to adopt new technology
FDA regulation of telemedicine networks as medical devices
interstate licensing and credentials
malpractice and liability (especially telecommunication providers)
reimbursement policies
11. Technical obstacles to telemedicine development security and confidentiality concerns
telecommunication regulation and costs
speed of communication (especially in rural areas)
reliability and accessibility of information on WWW
12. Web sites for exploration http://www.cs.uwyo.edu/~rex/telelab.html
http://www.wmcnet.org/tele-med/telemed.htm
http://www.fammed.washington.edu/telemed/
http://zeus.arc.nasa.gov/spacebridge.html
http://www.nlm.nih.gov/research/visible/visible_human.html
http://www.nnlm.nlm.nih.gov/netinfo/
http://www.jem.org