title: [The current status and prospects of telemedicine in Asahikawa Medical College Hospital].
abstract: Asahikawa Medical College Hospital Telemedicine Center was established in July 1999. We describe the current status and problems of telemedicine in Asahikawa Medical College Hospital Telemedicine Center. Nine hundred and seventy-one cases were consulted using telemedicine system between July 1999 and November 2002. The fields for which telemedicine techniques were frequently used for consultation were radiology, ophthalmology and pathology. The purposes of telemedicine in the field of ophthalmology were referential to surgery and diagnostic supports. Telemedicine techniques contribute to decreasing the economic and time burdens of patients. Problems with the use of telemedicine techniques include deterioration of image quality especially in the field of ophthalmology, the difficulty of real-time telemedicine conditions, and the costs of communication.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Informatics, Asahikawa Medical College Hospital.
authors.forename: Hiroyuki
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Hirokawa
authors.forename: Hiroshi
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Yamakami
authors.forename: Akitoshi
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Yoshida
mesh_terms: D003199:Computer Systems; D006785:Hospitals, University; D006801:Humans; D007091:Image Processing, Computer-Assisted; D007564:Japan; D017216:Telemedicine / Q000191:economics / Q000639:trends*