title: Telemedicine in Australia. 1: The health-care system and the development of telemedicine.
abstract: Telemedicine developments are intimately linked to the society in which they occur. Some of the salient factors are: the structure of the health-care system, especially its funding arrangements and the relationship between hospital and community care; the telecommunications network environment and business developments in communications technology; geographic factors of distance and isolation; and government policy dealing with interacting sectors. These factors are all considered in this review of the background to telemedicine developments in Australia.
authors.affiliation: Health Communication Network, Essendon, Victoria, Australia. Max.Alexander@hcn.net.au
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Alexander
mesh_terms: D001315:Australia; D003195:Computer Communication Networks; D003361:Cost Allocation; D003365:Costs and Cost Analysis; D003695:Delivery of Health Care / Q000379:methods* / Q000458:organization & administration; D005194:Family Practice / Q000458:organization & administration; D006297:Health Services Accessibility; D006801:Humans; D017063:Outcome Assessment, Health Care; D011050:Policy Making; D010818:Practice Patterns, Physicians'; D019114:Remote Consultation; D019035:Rural Health Services / Q000458:organization & administration; D017216:Telemedicine / Q000191:economics / Q000379:methods / Q000458:organization & administration*