title: Putting the 'tele' into health-care effectively.
abstract: Although the introduction of new technologies has been successful and become accepted practice in many areas of industry, traditional methods have tended to prevail in health-care. Telemedicine has been adopted by enthusiasts who recognize the potential benefits of a 'global health service'. However, the more widespread introduction of telemedicine requires considerable organizational change in the way health-care is delivered. More evaluation is required of clinical outcomes, organizational effects, benefits to health-care providers and users, and quality assurance.
authors.affiliation: Centre for Health Planning and Management, Keele University, Staffordshire, UK. hma22@keele.ac.uk
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Birch
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Rigby
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Roberts
mesh_terms: D014943:Global Health; D019981:Health Care Sector; D006801:Humans; D011785:Quality Assurance, Health Care; D017216:Telemedicine / Q000458:organization & administration* / Q000592:standards