Telemedicine in acute-phase injury management: a review of practice and advancements.
OBJECTIVE
To offer a systematic review of the body of literature in the emerging field of telemedicine in the management of acute-phase injuries.


METHODS
We conducted a literature review.


RESULTS
Telemedicine has only recently been applied to the specialties of trauma, emergency care, and surgery. The potential benefits of telemedicine include a decrease in travel expenses, enhanced continuity of care, and increased access to specialized consultants in medically underserved and rural areas.


CONCLUSIONS
There still exist barriers to the use of teletechnologies in medicine that limit their wider adoption. Poor infrastructure, limited equipment availability, and insufficient access to training and education for medical personnel have prevented wider use.
PHEPC, Austin, Minnesota, USA.
Erin R
ER
Lewis
Carlos A
CA
Thomas
Michael L
ML
Wilson
Victor W A
VW
Mbarika
D000208:Acute Disease; D003266:Continuity of Patient Care; D006751:Hospital Information Systems; D006801:Humans; D010818:Practice Patterns, Physicians'; D011379:Prognosis; D017216:Telemedicine / Q000379:methods / Q000458:organization & administration*; D014481:United States; D014947:Wounds and Injuries / Q000517:prevention & control*