Most people aren't familiar with the concept of "telemedicine" - even doctors as a group still don't seem to know much about this novel technology. But telemedicine is being used successfully these days to deliver health care to individuals through existing and enhanced telephone systems. Networks have already been set up in various parts of the United States to allow consults to be conducted over great distances. For example, a meeting with a patient and physician that originates in a doctor's office in a small rural community may include a specialist in a major medical center, teaching hospital, or tertiary care facility. Real-time video images of the participants are sent via a telemedicine network from one site to the other and may even eliminate the need for the patient to be seen "in person" by the specialist, if treatment can be provided at a local health care facility. Telemedicine is viewed as an important tool for improved health care delivery throughout the United States and has been a major funding focus for various federal and state programs in recent years. Individuals representing telemedicine networks, government health care facilities, and companies involved in developing new products gathered in Portland, Oregon, earlier this week to discuss the future of this innovative tool during the first annual Association of Telemedicine Service Providers (ATSP) conference. Even though implementation of telemedicine has steadily increased since 1994, hospitals and health care provider organizations that establish these networks continue to struggle with legal, medical, organizational, reimbursement, and technical issues. Despite many barriers, greater numbers of "teleconsults" are conducted each year using telemedicine systems. To provide a basis for operational goals, the ATSP meeting focused on "the business of telemedicine." Speakers provided information on a variety of topics. Two "business-related" issues were: the large financial investments needed for hospitals to keep current or to enhance information technology capabilities, and the influence of increased competition among health care provider organizations and the industry-wide pressure to expand market share standings. As an industry organization, ATSP activities are directed at "making telemedicine ubiquitous throughout the world." (Judd & McNulty, 1999) To evaluate the possibilities for achieving this objective, Dr. Douglas Perednia (the president of ATSP) posed a hot-button question to discuss whether telemedicine should be driven by consumer demand. Ultimately, we should all probably learn more about telemedicine in order to expand our own health care options as well as to understand the difficulties facing individuals in rural areas who may benefit the most from this state-of-the-art technology. 80 pgs. Bibliography lists 24 sources.
