Doctors at a distance [telemedicine]

Medical care seems to be moving further away from the patient as family doctors and hospitals consolidate their operations into fewer, larger units. At the same time, advances in information and communications technology offer new opportunities to deliver healthcare where it is needed, even when doctor and patient are physically separated. Applications of telemedicine as it is called, have been developed across a wide range of clinical disciplines and for purposes as diverse as providing decision support for doctors in military field hospitals, for sending electrocardiograms from ambulances and cutting waiting lists for dermatology appointments. This diverse and growing range of activities could deliver real medical and economic benefits.