For the past several years, “telemedicine” has become an emerging trend.This involves remote diagnosis and treatment of the patient, where the exchange of medical information occurs without the physical presence of a physician. Interactions take place in “real time” most often through online video interaction, text messaging, or email exchange between patients and physicians.
Telemedicine initially began as an option for underserved rural areas or for military personnel many times offshore, for whom there was a lack of health care options. Patients were able to contact a health care provider by phone and receive a diagnosis and treatment plan without seeing a physician in person.Today, not only are doctors utilizing telemedicine via phones apps, computers and video technology, but the potential for equipment which can allow a doctor to remotely listen to a patient’s heart and lungs, obtain basic vitals, and even look into a patient’s ears, nose or throat is in the making.