Document Type : Review Article
Authors
1
IT Consultant and Website Manager, Mashhad Medical Council, Mashhad, Iran
2
Medical Informatics Specialist, Assistant Professor, Medical Informatics Research Center, Futures Studies in Health Research Institute, Kerman University of Medical Sciences, Kerman, Iran
Abstract
Telemedicine is the use of technology for remote medical education, delivery of healthcare through monitoring, training, consulting and treatment. Providing virtual environments for delivery of healthcare services is one of the essentials for medical sciences in the new century. Implementation of telemedicine networks in most parts of the world, especially in the accident-prone or impassable areas is expanding. In addition, this technology results in expansion of medical community profession and providing medical services to public, particularly in remote rural areas. Telemedicine services include telemonitoring, telecounsaltation, telsurgery, telediagnosis and thelepharmacy. Establishment and building infrastructures of telemedicine is necessary for the developing community of Iran. The use of telemedicine technology in Iran has been taken into account from nearly a decade ago. Although in recent years, there has been a great tendency toward implementation of this technology for military forces of the country, established pilot facilities of this technology have been provided in over 15 health centers related to the oil industry. The main obstacles in implementation of telemedicine are difficulty in funding providing related equipment (essential problems), and also changing the attitude of higher authorities, training knowledgeable personnel, convincing insurance companies to pay the medical fees to healthcare team and providing high-speed Internet infrastructure at health centers. It is necessary to legislate in this field and to convince insurance companies. Undoubtedly, in order to achieve the benefits of these technologies, coordinated cooperation of government, parliament, Ministry of Health, Medical Universities and Medical Council is required.
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