Telemedicine

Caterina: You have found a very good source - good information! I would like to see a simple explanation of synchronous and asynchronous related to telemedicine / telesurgery. The page mentioned has very simple and clear statements about the advantages and disadvantages of telemedicine for doctors, patients, families, and others that would be better or clearer than what you have included which mentions specific equipment that is not explained.

Pictures used are good but maybe more could be added about the equipment mentioned for robotic operations or consultation at a distance.

Include information from other sources.

Good work in general.

Elizabeth =Telemedicine =

__What is Telemedicine?__ “Telemedicine is the ability to provide interactive healthcare utilizing modern technology and telecommunications.” So, it is the medical information that can be transmitted via telephone or internet, and also the medical procedures and examinations, at a distance. **This is extremely useful as patients can be at home with their family, or for example, a mother at home can read to her premature baby in the hospital.**
 * Synchronous / asynchronous telemedicine || video-conference || teleotoscope || telestethoscope ||
 * dermatology || radiology || pathology ||  ||

There are many types of telemedicine, from monitoring a patient to operating a patient at a long distance. For synchronous telemedicine, **which is to say, telemedicine which occurs at regular intervals (like for example a teleotoscope which sends images every two minutes)** video-conference and other peripherals, such as teleotoscope and telestethoscope are used. For store-and-forward telemedicine, data such as medical images and biosignals are transmited to an expert, or a doctor for him to look at them and know what their patients have. In this case, both, patient and doctor, do not have to be in communication, it can de done at different times, this is known as asynchronous telemedicine. **Asynchronous telemedicine refers to a situation in which data can be transmitted intermittently rather than in a steady stream. For example, if a piece of equipment finds something unexpected while operating, it can send a signal and an image. However, it wouldn't send one regularly, only in case of a complication.** Usually, this type of telemedicine is used for dermatology, radiology and pathology. **For example, somebody with cancer can be trated by a robotic hand (the daVinci Surgical System). Also, there is special equipment which magnifies your field of vision 12 times which is very useful at detecting bleeding much faster.** http://www.research.uky.edu/odyssey/spring05/surgery.html || Here we can see a surgeon operating behind a machine. It is instructing the robot so that the robot's precision is taken advantage of. There are other doctors around to identify any complications the robot does not identify. ||
 * Aside from the fact that telemedicine can be used at a distance, its robotic equipment has other advantages too:**
 * Significantly less pain
 * Less blood loss
 * Less scarring
 * Shorter recovery time
 * A faster return to normal daily activities
 * And in many cases, better clinical outcomes
 * [[image:davinci.jpg]]
 * [[image:050309150321.jpg align="center"]] || This image depicts a patient talking to the specialist in another country. This can be done thanks to a videoconference, and the patient can talk directly to the doctor instead of writing. Also, the doctor can see how the patient is doing and can detect if there is anything wrong or if anything needs to be changed to fit the patient's needs. ||
 * This is a type of robot, with very precise operating apparatus, used in telemedicine as they are controlled by a doctor at a distance. || [[image:Robots01.jpg align="right"]] ||

__For patients:__
 * The specialist actually hears your medical history and current condition directly from you and your provider instead of the specialist receiving a dictated note in the mail. **(Videoconference)**
 * A local doctor can receive education from the specialist with every consultation, which benefits all of his patients.
 * The specialist can diagnose and recommend treatment immediately.
 * Loved ones around for support.
 * Cutting traveling costs.

__For local healthcare:__ http://www.telemedicine.com/whatis.html
 * Improved confidence in local healthcare.
 * The provider has the chance to learn and gain more experience by talking to the specialist.
 * http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2006/10/061012093108.htm
 * http://users.forthnet.gr/ath/giovas/telemed/
 * http://www.greenstar.org/telemed-intro.htm