By Jennifer Bradley, Staff Writer
The focus of telemedicine thus far has been
mainly consultative. The American Telemedicine
Association boasts its benefits as improved
access to patients, cost efficiency and an
answer to consumer demand in today’s busy world.
Telemedicine encompasses the following services:
specialist and primary care consultations,
imaging services, remote patient monitoring, and
remote medical education and consumer
information.
The ATA states that telemedicine is not a
separate medical specialty, with no billing
distinction made between services provided
on-site and remotely. This is good news for
patients who are concerned about insurance
issues. A doctor’s visit is a doctor’s visit,
whether in-person or a video conference session.
Models
Some experts say there are three, but the
majority of professionals agree on two distinct
ways telemedicine is used today. The first is a
real-time interaction, which is also the most
common. Whether a simple phone call or complex
as robotic surgery, real-time telemedicine
necessitates both parties are present at the
same time, with a communications link that
allows an immediate interaction. Video
conferencing equipment is popular, and today
technology is available which allows physicians
to perform remote patient evaluations.
A tele-otoscope, seeing inside a patient’s
ear, or a tele-stethoscope to hear a heartbeat
are just some of the many devices. Specialists
such as cardiologists, neurologists, as well as
pharmacists are able to consult patients in real
time via an immediate network connection.
Surgeons now can operate on a patient miles
away with telemedicine. One of the earliest
occurred on September 7, 2001, when a remote
operation was conducted across the Atlantic
Ocean. A surgeon in New York performed a
gallbladder operation on a patient in
Strasbourg, France. It was completed with the
use of a dedicated fiberoptic link, which
ensured a digital connection and minimal lag
time.
The rapid growth in technology has made these
remote surgery rooms very specialized. In
Toronto, Canada, the room responds to the
surgeon’s voice command to control a variety of
equipment on site, including the lighting,
position of the operating table and surgical
tools themselves. Remote surgery is not a
widespread phenomenon, as development of
standards and compatibility of equipment are
just some issues to be resolved.
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