Análisis de la introducción de la Telemedicina en la ... - Euskadi.net

Executive summary
Title: Analysis of telemedicine applications in the management-coordination
of specilised and primary care. Appraisal of results and costs of pre-existing
experiences (teleophthalmology).
Authors: Orruño Estibalitz, Lapuente Juan Luis, Gutiérrez Mª Asun, Asua
José.
Technology: Diagnostics
Key words MeSH: Telemedicine, diabetic retinopathy, teleophthalmology
Date: 2007
Pages: 155
References: 76
Language: Spanish
ISBN: 978-84-457-2692-1
Introduction
Introduction of new technologies in healthcare and the advances made in
telecommunications have led to the rapid application of telemedicine in a range
of different health systems. The new Information and Communications Technologies
offer a range of new opportunities for the exchange of health-related
information and have made possible a number of new forms of care, even when
the healthcare professional and patient are separated by long distances.
Telemedicine can be divided into three main areas: telecommunications,
computer sciences and health services. Telemedicine embraces concepts such
as telemonitoring, telepresence and teleconsulting, as well as the gathering,
processing, transmission, analysis, storage and visualisation of medically
relevant data, remote telepresence and other technologies currently under
development.
The fundus of the eye can be photographed by primary healthcare
personnel and the pictures can then be analysed by specialist at a distance
for proper examination. Such system constitutes one of the major advances
which reduce the distance between primary and specialist healthcare. One
of the ophthalmic diseases that could benefit most from the use of telemedicine
is diabetic retinopathy, which is one of the most important causes of
blindness in patients affected by this illness.
Telemedicine provides a number of advantages: a more equitable access
to health services, a reduction of unnecessary travelling, a reduction of waiting
times, earlier treatment of critical patients and the possibility of performing
remote consultations. Furthermore, the use of telemedicine is also costeffective.
INFORMES, ESTUDIOS E INVESTIGACIÓN 17