title: [Telemedicine and general practice--future or present. Telemedicine, a way to strengthen the gatekeeper role?].
abstract: Electronic communication and data-processing are by no means a new phenomenon in general practice. The next logical step might be to include telemedicine, i.e. images, sound, video, and other kinds of medical information in the communication process. The potential for applying telemedicine in the adjoining areas between the general practice and the hospitals and patients is reviewed. We assume that an increase in the use of electronic communication and telemedicine will strengthen the central role of general practice. A representative sample of international literature is reviewed. The findings are that patients have no substantial misgivings against the use of telemedicine, but scientific documentation of the influence on the patient-doctor relationship, on the quality and quantity of the medical work, and on the job satisfaction of general practitioners is still not available. We present a number of suggestions regarding the use of electronic communication between the general practitioner and the patient. The importance of providing clear, in-depth information to the patient about the use of medical IT communication is underlined. The aspect of data-security is evaluated, and for lack of precise guidelines from health officials it is our suggestion that the report from the Danish Ministry of Finance regarding data-security in public administration is consulted. As to data-access, doctors and patients should be placed on two different safety-levels. It's suggested that doctors should be equipped with a digital key, whereas patients should use a pin code and their social security number. The use of traditional e-mail is dissuaded when exchanging sensitive, person-related information. The importance of valid evaluation of new IT functions is underlined.
authors.forename: Niels Kristian
authors.initials: NK
authors.lastname: Kjaer
authors.forename: Kristoffer
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Karlsen
mesh_terms: D003195:Computer Communication Networks / Q000592:standards / Q000639:trends; D016494:Computer Security; D003219:Confidentiality; D003718:Denmark; D034742:Electronic Mail; D005194:Family Practice / Q000592:standards / Q000639:trends; D020793:Gatekeeping; D006801:Humans; D020407:Internet; D010353:Patient Education as Topic; D010817:Physician-Patient Relations; D012017:Referral and Consultation / Q000458:organization & administration / Q000639:trends; D017216:Telemedicine / Q000592:standards / Q000639:trends