title: [Telemedicine - an overview].
abstract: Currently, there is considerable interest in telemedicine for two reasons: Firstly, it is expected to bring improvements in health care. Secondly, it is assumed that telemedicine reduces health care costs. The latter is of particular importance because health care costs are expected to rise considerably in the future. The present article describes the current situation of telemedicine in Germany.
authors.forename: St
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Christiansen
authors.forename: J-P
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Klötzer
mesh_terms: D003695:Delivery of Health Care / Q000191:economics* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005858:Germany; D006801:Humans; D012648:Self Care / Q000191:economics* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D017216:Telemedicine / Q000191:economics* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*