Discussion Forum

Telemedicine, in its broader term, is the remote diagnosis and treatment of patients by means of telecommunication technology. Telemedicine has begun to revolutionize the provision of health care. Through telemedicine, we can provide access to health care to many people who would not have access because of where they live or if they are unable to access in-person health care services. Telemedicine started in the 1960s and continues to evolve in the 21st century.

The recent experience with the Covid epidemics and the restraints created for interpersonal contacts has stimulated and increased the use of telemedicine for many aspects of medicine and health care delivery. Patients have been able to see doctors through video conferences for a variety of health issues, receive diagnoses and prescriptions. Mental health practitioners have been able to provide counseling and psychological/psychiatric intervention through video conferences a swell. Telemedicine has enabled diagnostic procedures to be implemented without going to the doctor’s office. Cardiologists have been able to monitor heart function and rhythm, neurologists have been able to monitor brain activities, rehabilitation specialists can monitor patients at home during their rehabilitation. Even surgeons have been able to do surgeries in faraway places using robotic equipment guided by a computerized system.

Telemedicine is becoming increasingly present in our daily lives and studies are ongoing to evaluate the impact on outcomes and the cost benefits of this new technological approach.