Telehealth or Telemedicine

Telemedicine is the use of electronic communications and information technology to provide clinical services in which the participants are in different places. Closely associated with telemedicine is the term telehealth.

This term is often used to include a wider application of technology for distance education, the proliferation of consumer and other applications where electronic communications and information used in support of health care. Videoconferencing, transmission of still images, e-health including patient portals, remote monitoring of vital signs, continuing medical education and nursing call centers are considered part of telemedicine and telehealth.

            Within the existing health facilities, some of the key personnel have often led to clinical development of telemedicine applications. The results offered the first telemedicine reflects the clinical specialties heads. The best examples in the past have included radiology, dermatology, cardiology and pathology.

            Telemedicine is not a separate medical specialty, but rather is a tool that can be used by health professionals to extend the traditional practice of medicine outside the walls of medical practice. In addition, telemedicine a way to help transform health care itself, encourage greater consumer participation in decision making and provide new approaches for maintaining a healthy lifestyle.