Economic Environment and Applications of Telemedicine

Abstract

Telemedicine is broadly defined as the transmission of electronic medical data across a distance among hospitals, clinicians, and/or patients. This definition is deliberately unlimited to what kind of information is transmitted, how the information is transmitted, or how the information is used once received (HCAB, 2003). Telemedicine has the potential of making a greater positive effect on the future of healthcare and medicine than any other modality. Fueled by advances in multiple technologies such as digital communications, full-motion/compressed video, and telecommunications, providers see an unprecedented opportunity to provide access to high-quality care, independent of distance or location