Title: Telemedicine: the next healthcare delivery medium: fad or future?

Authors: Ashish N. Dwivedi, Rajeev K. Bali, Raouf N.G. Naguib

Addresses: Management Systems Group, Business School, University of Hull, Hull, UK. ' Applied Research Group in Biomedical Computing and Engineering Technologies (BIOCORE), Faculty of Engineering and Computing, Coventry University, Coventry, CV1 5FB, UK. ' Applied Research Group in Biomedical Computing and Engineering Technologies (BIOCORE), Faculty of Engineering and Computing, Coventry University, Coventry, CV1 5FB, UK

Abstract: During the past two decades, advances in Information Technology (IT) particularly in database technologies, internet technologies and telecommunications have brought about a revolution in healthcare. These IT advances have enabled medical personnel to have round-the-clock access to clinical data irrespective of the geographic location of both medical personnel and clinical data. This in turn has led to the coming of age of a new medium of healthcare delivery – telemedicine. This paper explores the viability (in organisational, technological and financial terms) of the telemedicine concept. The main findings are as follows: (1) an analysis of the uptake of information and communication technologies within the healthcare sector indicates that, in the next 10–15 years, telemedicine is likely to emerge as an alternative medium for healthcare; (2) telemedicine will allow patients to carry out routine medical tests, reducing the number of visits to the physician and thereby reducing costs for routine consultations.

Keywords: healthcare technology; ICT; information technology; communications; telemedicine; healthcare delivery.

DOI: 10.1504/IJHTM.2007.013162

International Journal of Healthcare Technology and Management, 2007 Vol.8 No.3/4, pp.226 - 249

Published online: 11 Apr 2007 *

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