Guys & St Thomas' - Telemedicine

What is Telemedicine?
Literally: Medicine at a distance

Defined in Information for Health Document – NHS Executive Sept 1998

?Any healthcare related activity (including diagnosis, treatment and monitoring) that normally involves a professional and a patient (or one professional and another) who are separated in space (and possibly also in time) and is facilitated through the use of information and communication technologies. Telemedicine is usually delivered in a hospital clinic or surgery, while telecare is delivered in the patients' home"

How does it Work?
Relevant patient data, be it pictures, x-rays, vital signs, are transmitted by a combination of videoconferencing and/or electronic mail to centres of excellence where doctors or other health professionals can give expert opinions

How does it Benefit Patients?
Telemedicine has the potential to offer a faster more equitable access to specialist medical care for all citizens, while reducing the need to travel to these centres of excellence

How does it Benefit Clinicians?
Enables clinicians to seek primary or second clinical opinions from specialist colleagues quickly, without transferring the patient or seeking a formal out-patient appointment

What is the Future for Telemedicine?
Telemedicine has the potential to fundamentally change the way medicine is practised and will facilitate the drive towards a more responsive and co-ordinated approach involving all healthcare providers