Telemedicine technologies and effectiveness: A review article

Telemedicine is the use of information and communication technologies in order to provide access to medical and health care services whenever a large physical distance exists between patient and the service. Telemedicine is easily accessible for people living in remote regions and people with chronic illnesses who need long time home care. This technology is provided in different services, including telenursing, telepharmacy, telesurgery, telegenetic, telerehabilitation, telehomecare, teletrauma care, telecardiology, telepsychiatry, teleradiology, telepathology, teledermatology, teledentistry, teleaudiology and teleophthalmology. In this article, recent telemedicine technologies which used in developed countries are introduced and the clinical and cost-effectiveness of these services is evaluated.