Introducing Telemedicine : Application, Challenges, Needs and Benefits, Components & Infrastructure

Contents: Foreword. Preface. 1. Introduction to telemedicine. 2. Telemedicine-a brief history. 3. Telemedicine application in clinical practice. 4. Challenges in telemedicine. 5. Telemedicine-its needs and benefits. 6. Components of telemedicine technology and infrastructure. 7. Cyber medicine. Glossary. Bibliography. Index.

"Telemedicine is the practice of diagnosis, consultation and treatment of patients by telecommunication between physicians and specialists, finally, the benefit going to distant patients. Specifically, telemedicine is a 2-way audio and video communication network that allows hospitals and their physicians and specialists in the field of medicine; access to medical technological resources via telephone lines, Integrated Services Digital Network (ISDN) lines and/or satellite linkups. The use of telemedicine and its interactive medical technology continues to grow and many institutions, hospitals and clinics are utilising the newer developments in telemedicine application. Telemedicine is an emerging field that can have profound social impact on the delivery and quality of medical care.

This book aims to support in sensitizing the Government and private organisations to come forward to establish facilities for utilising telemedicine application in their clinical practice. Telemedicine will be the next big wave to inundate the practice of medicine. The combined synergy of low cost computing power, improving telecommunication facilities (including the internet) and advances in clinical information sciences will transform how medicine is practised. Perhaps the medical profession needs help to formulate the strategic plans in health care sector. The book will give information that perhaps is urgently needed to our physicians and surgeons to understand the basic concept of telemedicine technology and its application in clinical medicine." (jacket)