title: [Electronic house call].
abstract: Telemedicine technology will soon be widely available in physicians' surgeries and patients' homes. In this article we discuss the broader implications of its widespread use among physicians, patients, and society as a whole, focusing on the main vehicle of communication between physician and patient; the "electronic home visit" or "electronic house call". After exploring the new relationship that is likely to develop between patients and physicians as a consequence of the use of telemedicine, we then discuss the anticipated broader social, economic and legal consequences of the widespread use of this technology.
authors.affiliation: Avdeling for samfunnsmedisin Statens institutt for folkehelse, Oslo.
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Hurlen
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Ostbye
mesh_terms: D018575:Home Care Services, Hospital-Based / Q000191:economics / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence / Q000458:organization & administration; D006792:House Calls; D009664:Norway; D012017:Referral and Consultation; D017216:Telemedicine / Q000191:economics / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence / Q000458:organization & administration