Definition Of Telemedicine

The definition of telemedicine varies on different experts, each expert define telemedicine differently
this might be caused by different way of people understanding it. As the example, Institute of medicine
(1996) defines telemedicine as the usage of modern electronic telecommunication to deliver health care
services anywhere around the world. The Lancet (1995), in Wootton. R., (2001) defines telemedicine as a
general term that involve medical activity and element of distance.Sood S. Et. Al., (2007) defines
telemedicine as a branch of electronic Health (e-Health) that utilize modern communications to
distribute healthcare from one location to another.Burke Et al, (2015) defines telemedicine as a tool to
improve people health around the world.

During the covid-19 pandemic days, telemedicine rises in popularity as there is no vacine and effective
therapies to treat the disease the only left available option was to halt the spread of the virus by
enacting social distancing and quarantine (Mann et al ,2020). The use of telemedicine on march 4th
grew from 82 visits to 1336 visits just in 15 days. Before covid there is about below 50 visits for a non-
urgent care spesialities but, on the 19th of March it increased to more than 1000 even reaching over
7000 visits just in 10 days (Mann et al, 2020).This essay will discuss about the application telemedicine,
different types of telemedicine, it's benefits and it's challenge.

The application of telemedicine isn’t only for preventing the spread of covid it can be applied to treat
different disease too. A research done by Kepplinger J. Et Al., (2016) with the intention of knowing the
safety of using telemedicine to treat stroke stated that the use of telemedicine to provide IV tPA to
stroke patients is safe and effective. Lyerly.Et Al., (2016) research find that the use of telemedicine
increased the treatment of acute stroke for more than a million texans. A research on the use of
telemedicine on treating heart failure conducted by Koehler F. Et Al., (2018) stated that by doing a
remote patient management it manage to lower the percentage of death and days lost due to
unexpected cardiovascular admission. Lin M. Et Al., (2017) also state that the use of telemedicine to
treat heart failure was beneficial as it’s manage to reduce the death rate of heart failure and the hospital
admission caused by heart failure.Krum H. Et Al., (2013) stated telemedicine helped in reducing the
number of people from rural area that are hospitalized because of heart failure. The research on the use
of telemedicine to treat diabetes stated that the use of telemedicine to treat diabetes are more effective
than the normal treatment, Su D. Et al., (2016). Wood. C. Et AL.,(2016) stated that treatment of diabetes
using telemedicine can considered to be the same as their normal counterpart not only that the patient
also still get to school more often and decreased in economic weight. Telemedicine also manage to help
during pregnancy as it’s able to reduce prenatal stress. Compared to conventional prenatal care it
actually generate in higher patient satisfaction and lower risk of prenatal stress, while being able to
reduce the amount of visit conducted , Tobah. B. Et al., (2019). The usage of telemedicine didn’t sacrifice
any of the quality diagnosis neither with the patient satisfaction. The program was practicable,
supporting the local healthcare givers, giving families economic advantage, giving the benefits of face to
face services while not actually meeting face to face.

The usage of telemedicine also bring benefits for healthcare services. Emmerick T. et al., (2020)
telemedicine can allow the observer to gain more social information, information of other at home
behavior, can understand the patients commitment. The patients also can gain benefits of telemedicine
as they doesn’t have to travel meaning no parking fee, childcare fee, and no gas cost, patients who lived
in rural area can also access healthcare easily, flexibility on the patient schedule and saving time as there
is no time wasted on moving patients into rooms.

Telemedicine also has some issue of it’s implementation some are; As there are no face to face
interaction, the patient-provider relationship become erased, Physical examination become limited,
Inability to judge patient behavior and patient hygiene, Distraction at home ,Connection problem, Lost
of income in facility fees, Lower income in hospital, Emmerick T. et al., (2020). High chance of patient
data gotten hacked, Medication delivery got delayed because doctor can’t provide life-saving care or
deliver distant laboratory test, Law vary in one state with the other, Chance of forgetting to mention an
important symptom, Expensive to set up and manage, Haleem A. Et Al., (2021)

There are also a few different concept of telemedicine. Mariani A.W & Pego-Fernandes.P. M., (2021)
these few concept are included in telemedicine;

1. Teleconsultation: a healthcare services that happened when the doctor and the patient are in a
separate location and can be done by either audio or video conversation on which happened
live.
2. Telediagnosis: composed of limited approach to some checkup and limitied publication, done by
a doctor at a different location. Commonly used in radiology.
3. Teleinterconsultation : exchanging information between two or more professional that are
located in two different location or more. Usualy used when the opinion of another professional
are needed.
4. Telesurgery: surgery that are done by surgeon by distance with the help of robotic equipment.
5. Teletriage: Composed of limited complaints from patient through phone call with and
agreement of both party when neeeded
6. Telemonitoring: distant of patient follow up of patient heatlth .

Conclusion

There are many definition of telemedicine caused by the way experts approach the meaning of it.
Telemedicine has existed long before covid but it’s rise in popularity started during the covid-19
outbreak as there are no face to face interaction allowed in order to slowing down the spread of the
disease. Telemedicine also can be implemented on other disease not only on covid but also on stroke,
diabetes, heart failure and pregnancy. Telemedicine also doesn’t only bring benefits but also it has it’s
own challenge. Telemedicine also has many different form with different usage.