What does the future hold for telemedicine?
Telemedicine is part of the larger world of telehealth: the use of communications technology in healthcare. There is growing interest in using telehealthcare for disease management and prevention. Home healthcare and long-term care both may derive tremendous benefits from telemedicine. Emergency telemedicine is starting to be used on airline flights and cruises and is part of many military operations. The future of telehealth depends less on technology than on politics. Funding of healthcare is tied to such areas as government programs, telecommunications law and insurance reimbursement. The consumer is a key player in the future of telehealth. If people understand what telemedicine is, see it’s value, and insist that they have access to it, governments, employers, and insurance companies will make it feasible. Public awareness is critical to telemedicine’s success.
