title: Telemedicine is the way forward for the management of cystic fibrosis- the case against.
abstract: It is reasonable to suggest that Telemedicine could help in the management of chronic diseases by giving patients more flexibility to remain at home with opportunities to forward electronic data to healthcare professionals, reduce hospital emergency attendances and reduce overall costs. The reality, particularly in cystic fibrosis care, is this has not happened. There is concern that home-generated lung function data is of poor quality and virtually no studies show improved outcomes. The UK has a poor record in developing novel IT programmes and we need many more well designed clinical studies in Telemedicine before wading in with ill-conceived expensive plans just because the idea seems interesting.
authors.affiliation: Professor of Respiratory Child Health, Keele University, Consultant Respiratory Paediatrician Royal Stoke University Hospital Stoke on Trent Staffs and Global Paediatric Respiratory Expert within the Respiratory Franchise at Glaxo Smith Kline. Electronic address: w.lenney46@hotmail.co.uk.
authors.forename: Warren
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Lenney
mesh_terms: D003550:Cystic Fibrosis / Q000628:therapy*; D006699:Home Care Services / Q000458:organization & administration*; D006801:Humans; D020380:Needs Assessment; D017216:Telemedicine / Q000379:methods / Q000592:standards; D017211:Treatment Failure
keywords: Cystic Fibrosis; Limitations; Telemedicine