Telemedicine: Pros and Cons, Research Paper Example

Introduction

The term telemedicine refers to the application of information and communication technologies for the purpose of clinical care delivery. It involves transfer of medical information through the internet, the phone, or some other forms of networks purpose mainly for the purposes of consultation, remote medical examination or remote medical procedures (Wootton & Patterson, 2006).  Telemedicine utilizes the contemporary information technologies that extends the distribution efficacy and expands the productive capacity of the healthcare system (Telemedicine information exchange, 2005). Telemedicine has been put forward as a multifaceted instrument to address some of the most persistent challenges confronting the health care system which include:  (1) the continued rise in healthcare cost, (2) the insufficient access to quality, and/or any care especially on the side of particular parts of the population, for instance the isolated, the confined and the under-privileged, who are collectively termed as the “underserved” and, (3) the uneven distribution of healthcare in terms of geography (Post, 2002). Telemedicine may range from a simple scenario involving two healthcare experts discussing a particular case trough a telephone, to the complex use of video-conferencing and satellite technology equipment in the conduct of a real-time consultation amongst medical specialist in 2 diverse countries. Telemedicine exists in 3 main categories i.e. remote monitoring, interactive services and store-and-forward telemedicine. Provision of health care services through telemedicine presents a number of advantages as well as disadvantages.

Pros of Telemedicine

Telemedicine is very useful as a communication instrument between a general practitioner accessible at a location that is remote and a general practitioner e.g. distantly diagnosing and treating ailing persons in need of cardiac defibrillation (resuscitation) while operating over the standard telephone lines. Telemedicine is of great importance to populations living in remote regions or in isolated communities (Telemedicine information exchange, 2005). Telemedicine allows for remote monitoring solutions to an ailing person at home through the use of known devices such as blood pressure monitors, the information obtained is then transferred to a caregiver; this services have a focus on contemporary chronic diseases with high morbidity. It is true that we don’t have every single information regarding medical problems in the external world and with all the health issues and new diseases emerging every day, telemedicine offers a means to learn more rapidly in an effort to minimize discomfort, save lives and reduce risk to an ailing person any longer beyond absolute necessity. Military personnel are oftenly located in remote regions of the world where telemedicine is the solitary means of diagnosing and treating them since telemedicine is versatile and effective.

Video conferencing opens up fresh possibilities for ongoing training or education for rural or isolated health practitioners, who might not be in a position to abandon their rural practice to join educational opportunities or professional meetings. Currently with ease in the availability and costs of the high end technology has made it faster and easier to implement applications of telemedicine for remote regions that are medically underprivileged (Takahashi, 2001).  Medical consultations through video from a clinic in a rural region to a specialist elsewhere can exaggerate prohibitive travel and related costs for the patients. Telemedicine offers a better chance for consultations and second opinion resulting in avoidance of costly and delays e.g. waiting time that can in various circumstances prevent death or any other serious complications (Wootton & Patterson, 2006).

Cons of Telemedicine

A number of limitations hamper the success of telemedicine. Telemedicine is being faced with being faced with legal complications e.g. a number of states won’t all healthcare physicians and practitioners to practice not unless licensed by them. A set code of ethics, rules and laws are required to be applied prior to the regular use of telemedicine in various capacities, which might take a lengthy duration. Many professionals are of the view that there are only a few types of telemedicine. Telemedicine raises fears that it will slowly remove personal contact. Video and conferences are not capable of replacing the valuable time between the patient and the doctor, or a more personal dialogue that physicians and doctors can have with each other (Telemedicine information exchange, 2005). This implies that telemedicine is not in a position to replace the face-to-face, direct assessment, diagnosis and treatment.  These innate inadequacies might inevitably impede the actual quality of care; consequently, this may generate dissatisfaction amongst customers and result in a number of litigations.  As telemedicine turns out to be a regular practice, services and the manner in which healthcare experts gets paid for them requires to be resolved first; this may prove to be an easier said than done determination. Telemedicine system might be coupled with over dependence and clinical risk. Owing to the risk involved regarding what is unreliable versus reliable information plus overuse or overdependence of telemedicine, it can easily become unmanageable until more informed procedures and strategies are put in place (Takahashi, 2001).

Many prospective telemedicine developments have been hindered by the absence of the appropriate telecommunications technology. The normal telephone line doesn’t supply ample bandwidth for the majority of telemedical applications.  Most of the rural areas lack various forms of telecommunication access including cable wiring that are necessary for more refined applications, hence individuals who stand to gain from telemedicine might not have access to the same. Telemedicine may undermine the already established and successful healthcare networks (Post, 2002).

Conclusion

It is evident from the above information that telemedicine have not been worked out fully to allow for its constant and flexible utilization. Nevertheless, it has enormous prospects to be a marvelous asset to the entire globe and its civilizations. It is obvious that the potential contributions it can create have endless prospects, but more effort and time will be required to organize telemedicine in such a way that will facilitate its acceptance with confidence. Pressure should be mounted on the appropriate legislative agencies and governments to augment the number of individuals realize the gains of telemedicine.

References

Post, S.L. (2002). The medical miracle of telemedicine. Retrieved June 12, 2002,

From   http://www.depts.ttu.edu/communications/vistas/archive/02-summer/stories/miracle-of-telemedicine.php

Takahashi, T. (2001). The present and future of telemedicine in Japan. International journal of medical informatics, 65(2): 131-137.

Telemedicine information exchange (2005). Telemedicine coming of age. Retrieved January 13, 2005,   from http://tie.telemed.org/articles/article.asp?path=telemed101&article=tmcoming_nb_tie96.xml

Wootton, R. & Patterson, V. (2006).  Introduction to telemedicine. 2^nd Ed. New York: RSM Press.