| By :
Jamie Simpson
Telemedicine is a form of clinical medicine where information is sent via interactive audio and visual media. This can refer to the practice of transmitting medical related information via phone, internet or video broadcasting technology. Telemedicine is not a new concept and has a rich history however it has progressed at dramatic rates due to the advancement of technology. Telemedicine can be traced back to early Africa when African Villagers utilized smoke signals to warn others away from their villages when they had become infected with serious disease. Another example of early Telemedicine can be found in Australia in the early 1900's when individuals living in the remote regions of Australia used two way radios to communicate with the Royal Flying Doctor Service of Australia for medical advice. There are several different types of Telemedicine. The first is commonly referred to as "Store & Forward" which involves collecting medical information and then sending it to a medical specialist to be reviewed at a later date and time. The obvious advantage of this method is that both the doctor and the patient do not need to be present nor meet face to face, however, the assessment relies completely on medical records and captured video and audio in place of a physical examination which can be seen as a disadvantage by many individuals. "Remote Monitoring" is another type of Telemedicine that is commonly used. Remote Monitoring enables the medical technician or doctor to remotely monitor the patient with any number of medical devices. Remote Monitoring is well-known for its use in treating chronic diseases and certain specific diseases such as heart diseases. The utilization of Remote Monitoring can provide many benefits over traditional methods such as cost efficiency; remote monitoring is much more cost effective than in-person visits. Remote Monitoring can provide the same results as face to face visits. "Interactive Telemedicine" is the last type of Telemedicine and the most promising. Interactive Telemedicine provides interaction between the provider and the patient in real-time using technologies such as the phone, internet, satellite video communications and any other type of remote communication. As technology develops newer and more advanced forms of Telemedicine will become possible; there may even come a day when it is possible to perform operations and more advanced medical procedures from a remote location. Presently Interactive Telemedicine is mostly used to conduct physical examinations, history review and a wide array of assessments and evaluations including psychological assessments which are comparable to those done in person in a face to face environment. Telemedicine enables patients to open the door to a new world of medicine. Doctors are able to treat patients across the street or across the world and for a fraction of the cost of traditional medicine.
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