Telemedicine and its role in pandemics

Telemedicine

Abstract

There is no one definition for Telemedicine (care provided by physicians) and tele-health. (The care provision by other health professionals). This implies that telemedicine remains an open science able to incorporate the use of advancement in the technology the term has been in place since 1970 which basically meant healing at distance. It is the use of the medical information transferred from one site to another locations using communication technologies including video conferencing, cameras, satellite, computers, iPad, mobile phones and other wireless communication aids. Urk and Hall defined telemedicine as ‘the use of telecommunication technology to provide medical information and services. However, the WHO has adopted broader description for telemedicine: “the delivery of healthcare, where distance is a critical factor, by all healthcare professionals using information and communication technologies for the exchange of valid information for diagnoses, treatment and prevention of disease and injuries, research and evaluation and for the continuing of health care providers, all in the interest of advancing the health of individuals and their communities”.