Telemedicine is a convenient way to see your doctor from the privacy of your home, office, or any location. You can see your doctor via two-way video conferences like Skype on your computer, smart phone, or tablet while avoiding the hassle of driving to the doctor’s office, waiting in the waiting room and or exam room. Telemedicine is easy and personable, allowing a house call and a personal connection with your physician. Starting out over 40 years ago with demonstrations of hospitals extending care to patients in remote areas, the use of telemedicine has spread rapidly and is now becoming integrated into the ongoing operations of hospitals, specialty departments, home health agencies, private physician offices as well as consumer’s homes and workplaces.
Patient consultations via video conferencing, transmission of still images, e-health including patient portals, remote monitoring of vital signs, continuing medical education, consumer-focused wireless applications and nursing call centers, among other applications, are all considered part of telemedicine and telehealth.
Telemedicine refers to the actual delivery of remote clinical services using technology. Learn more about telemedicine