title: Telemedicine: a useful and necessary tool to improving quality of healthcare in the European Union.
abstract: Telemedicine is seen as a useful and potentially powerful tool: its use can improve the quality of healthcare while facing the challenge of reducing the costs. Telemedicine might evolve as a cost-effective alternative to the current forms of healthcare delivery. It can offer not only better access to--but also improved quality of--healthcare. Telemedicine can add considerable value for both, the healthcare professional and the patient. The paper sheds light on the infrastructural and financial aspects until the year 2000. The need for a strategy on European level is highlighted in order to facilitate the introduction of telemedicine on a European wide scale.
authors.affiliation: AIM Central Office, European Commission, Brussels, Belgium.
authors.forename: T J
authors.initials: TJ
authors.lastname: Sommer
mesh_terms: D003195:Computer Communication Networks; D003362:Cost-Benefit Analysis; D003695:Delivery of Health Care / Q000191:economics / Q000592:standards*; D005062:European Union; D006751:Hospital Information Systems; D006801:Humans; D011787:Quality of Health Care; D017216:Telemedicine / Q000191:economics / Q000639:trends