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Telemedicine across the ages
Author(s) -
Smith Anthony C,
Gray Leonard C
Publication year - 2009
Publication title -
medical journal of australia
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.904
H-Index - 131
eISSN - 1326-5377
pISSN - 0025-729X
DOI - 10.5694/j.1326-5377.2009.tb02255.x
Subject(s) - telemedicine , videoconferencing , service (business) , mainstream , rural area , telehealth , health care , medical emergency , medicine , computer science , business , telecommunications , political science , marketing , pathology , law
Telemedicine can help improve access to health care for people in rural and remote communities, but its uptake has been slow and fragmented. A telepaediatric service in Queensland, initiated in 2000, has made use of mobile “robot” videoconferencing systems. It has been cost‐effective and well accepted by patients and clinicians. Telegeriatric services were instigated in Queensland in 2005, principally using videoconferencing. Telegeriatrics has been ideal for frail older patients in remote areas. For telemedicine to become a mainstream service, its focus must move beyond simply the provision of equipment and network connectivity. Telemedicine must be funded adequately if it is to be successful.