Abstract
Telemedicine is a provision of healthcare services, which uses
telecommunication technology and multimedia equipment to provide healthcare
solutions over a geographic distance. The technology and equipment used to
provide the service include: videoconferencing, cameras, Internet, satellites,
and wireless communications.
Telemedicine provides clinical care services through two main technologies:
pre-captured (archived and then sent over the communication network) and real
time. The pre-captured technology is used in non-emergency situations.
Applications of this technology include Teleradiology and Telepathology. The
real time technology, on the other hand, requires the use of interactive
screens to facilitate face to face consultation. It also assists the provision
of services such as Telecardiology, Telepsychiatry, and Telepediatrics.
Videoconferencing is commonly used to provide real time healthcare services.
A basic telemedicine unit consists of three modules:
- Data Capturing Module - It uses biosensors, image capturing devices, and
other peripheral devices to capture data such as blood pressure and weight
- Processing Module - It comprises computers of varying complexity, which
generate reports summarizing the data captured
- Networking Module - It includes video conferencing devices, satellite,
Internet, and WLAN
This report includes the global market for Telemedicine technologies. The
various segments considered are as follows:
- Teleradiology - This refers to the electronic transmission of radiographic
images (from radiologists sitting at a distant location) from one location to
another for interpretation and consultation. This would also include the
market for medical image transfer for other purposes like Telecardiology and
Teledermatology.
- Teleconsulting - This refers to the medical consultation between a
patient and a healthcare professional or two health professionals on an
electronic network (such as intranet and Internet)
- Telemonitoring - This refers to supervising the health status of patients,
from a distance. The data is either collected through patient co-operation
(such as using a web-based tool to enter daily blood pressure measurements) or
through personal health monitoring devices. The processed data is then used by
healthcare professionals to monitor the patient' s treatment protocol
- Telesurgery - This involves the use of robotic applications and computer
technology to conduct surgeries at remote locations
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