Telemedicine (2)

History of Telemedicine

Contrary to popular belief, telemedicine is not a new practice. In fact, the concept of telemedicine is dated back to the 19th century! What began as a few hospitals wanting to reach patients in remote locations became an integrative system across the care continuum. The history of telemedicine will unveil how we got to where we are today.

Telemedicine in the 19th Century

The creation of telemedicine began with the inception of the telecommunications infrastructure, which included the telegraph, telephone, and radio. Casualties and injuries were reported using the telegraph during the Civil War, in addition to the ordering of medical supplies and consultations. This is considered one the earliest adoptions of telemedicine technology.

By 1879, a Lancet report discussed how using the telephone can reduce the number of unnecessary office visits. This was only the beginning of what would be a patient care transformation.

Telemedicine in the 20th Century

In 1922, Dr. Hugo Gernsback featured the teledactyl in a science magazine. Gernsback predicted that this sensory feedback device would permit physicians to see their patients through a television screen and touch them from miles away with robot arms.

The first radiologic images were sent via telephone between two medical staff at two different health centers in Pennsylvania by 1948. The health centers were 24 miles apart from one another. Then in 1959, physicians at the University of Nebraska transmitted neurological examinations across campus to medical students using two-way interactive television. Five years later, a closed-circuit television link was built that allowed physicians to provide psychiatric consultations 112 miles away at Norfolk State Hospital.

Telemedicine Today

Today, most people have access to basic telemedicine devices like mobile phones and computers. With improved accessibility, individuals in rural areas and busy urban areas can connect with a provider with ease. Home-use medical devices make it possible for caregivers to monitor everything from vitals to glucose levels. Physicians can gather essential medical information and make a diagnosis without patients stepping foot in a doctors office.

By 2020, telemedicine is expected to be a $35 billion industry and be an imperative piece of modern healthcare delivery. The history of telemedicine shows that we’ve come so far from where we started, and yet still have a long ways to go.

Historical Development and implementation of Telemedicine

In 19th century with the telephone lines of Willem Einthoven. Telemedicine started to be mentioned for the first time with the transmission of electrocardiography (ECG). In the 1920s, in the Norwegian Haukeland Hospital, a radio frequency connection was established and health services were started to be provided to the ships on the open sea.

The first telemedicine studies in the United States were made in the state of Nebraska. In 1964, the 180 km closed-circuit television system was installed between the State Mental Hospital in Norfolk and the Nebraska Psychiatric Institute in Omaha.

The closed-circuit television system enabled consultation among experts. At the same time, lines were established in North America to provide health services to living places where there is no doctor and the application of telemedicine systems started.

By establishing a video conference call between Boston Airport and Massachusetts Hospital in 1968, it eliminated the need to have a doctor at the airport. In 1968, using the program called Interact, the University of Vermont, telemedicine was used in areas where there was little settlement, and consultation and training was provided from specialist doctors.

The United States experienced a new telecommunications development in 1960, supported by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA). Rapid developments in satellite technology have formed the basis of new generation telemedicine technology. NASA developed telemedicine technology in the 1970s and 1980s to reach hard-to-reach places such as Alaska.

The necessity of telemedicine for emergencies was understood during earthquakes in Mexico. Satellite technology was used to intervene in patients when communication systems could not be reached, thus enabling access to information about survivors and people working in that area. Satellite systems are of great importance, but technology and communication systems used in telemedicine were very expensive in this period.

NASA was responsible for telemedicine projects as it had access to most of its satellite systems, and some of these projects were funded by taxpayers. In the 1980s in the USA, telemedicine has literally started with the use of video conferencing systems between doctors and patients.

Then, in 1985, telemedicine started to be used in fields such as radiology, ophthalmology and dermatology in the USA. With the development of cable and fiber optic technologies in 1990, the use of telemedicine applications has continued to become widespread. Studies have been carried out in European countries to integrate telemedicine with national and international health systems since 1990.

Today, the use of telemedicine systems is increasing along with technology. England, America, Germany, Australia and Canada are the leading countries in telemedicine applications.