Telemedicine refers to the capacity to supply interactive healthcare services by making use of contemporary technology as well as telecommunications. Essentially, telemedicine makes it possible for patients to get the informed opinions of doctors over video for immediate care. In telemedicine, patient information as well as still images are captured and sent to doctors for an analysis and follow-up management later on. There are two types of technology that make up the majority of telemedicine applications. The first, known as ‘store and forward’, is used in the shifting of digital images from one locality to another. A digital picture is taken through a digital camera, (a process identified as being 'stored') and then sent ('forwarded') through the computer to another locality (Gibson, 2013). This is characteristically used in the treatment of non-emergency cases, when a consultation may be made at any time in the next two days, and then sent back. The digital picture can be transferred between two buildings in the same area, within a single building, or across different locations anywhere in the world.
The other telemedicine technology, two-way interactive television (IATV), is made use of when a 'face-to-face' diagnosis cannot be avoided. The patient, the telemedicine coordinator, and their provider are the parties usually at the originating site. The medical specialist whom they wish to contact is usually situated at an urban medical referral site. There is usually videoconferencing equipment in both sites that allows the discussion to take place. This type of technology has seen reductions in complexity as well as price in the recent years, and many such programs now utilize desktop videoconferencing methods. There are numerous configurations of the interactive consultation, however it most often takes place with cases of the rural patients of urban doctors. The patient is able to save transport costs, as well as avoid exacerbating a bad condition by merely speaking to his or her daughter over the the computer. Nearly all disciplines of medicine have been found to be able to allow this variety of consultation.
Technology suppliers in healthcare systems aid in increasing information transparency in the health industry sector, leaving the health clients armed with authentic and essential information to make the correct decisions about their health choices. For example, an online patient portal expressly links a healthcare practitioner with a health consumer. It is also a gateway of alternatives to quite a few other sources of medical knowledge, letting the consumer triangulate information regarding particular medical concerns. The medical journals that are obtainable on the Internet also provide health consumers with much needed information. International organizations with a directive to support and endorse public health are also practically circulating their campaigns in order to keep the world’s population conscious of any new illnesses.
Informatics students are constantly being introduced to the design of data transfer, networks, data communication in other graduate or undergraduate courses that are somehow connected to computer science. Supplemental medical training online is a suitable and practical method for dealing with the growing numbers of medical students. Moreover, a brief evaluation of telecommunications protocols and technologies that are used for applications in telemedicine is a necessary part of any telemedicine course (Wallace, 2001). Telemedicine courses are designed to acquaint students with the expressions and distinct technical skills, and costs of telemedicine. Students' understanding of the technical limitations as well as cost ranges of telemedicine allow a deeper comprehension telemedicine studies.
References
Gibson, H. (2013). Medicine + Technology + Telecommunications = Telemedicine, Today’s
Caregiver. Retrieved February 6, 2013 from http://www.caregiver.com/channels/tech/articles/telemedicine.htm
Wallace, G. (2001). Information technology and telemedicine. Canadian Medical Association or
its licensors, 165 (6) 777.
