Provider's perspective

Emergency Room “front line” support

Instant access to information, whether it be about a certain patient or a certain topic, can be essential or even life saving. Here we cite the story of a rural doctor who had never before done an amputation being helped through the procedure by a well-practiced physician over a video link. The two saved the life of the amputee, who did not have enough time to reach the larger facility

Accuracy of diagnosis / reduction of medical errors

Reduction of medical errors is a huge concern for the medical community.15 Getting it right on the first try is obviously the preferred way of doing things. With “tele-assistance” (e.g., communication with specialists), it is hoped that it will be easier for a doctor to get a "second opinion" on their diagnosis of a patient. With greater access to help, more patients will be treated correctly, the first time. This leads to even more benefits, such as quicker average recovery time, less use of unneeded medicines, and reduced costs to patients and hospitals.

A multifold increase in efficiency

Travel times for patients and doctors could be significantly reduced as well as research time and "paper handling" of medical records (which can be unbearably slow). It has already been seen that telemedicine on foreign military bases has sped up the whole process of treatment for soldiers abroad. Consultations from major medical centers to the military bases make diagnosis quicker and more accurate. Telemedicine saves time over traditional “paper-based” data transfer.

Continuing Medical Education / Lifelong learning

Telemedicine can enhance educational opportunities for health care providers, patients, and families, improving clinical outcomes and reducing hospitalizations. The opportunity to participate in continuing education on the latest in medical advances without having to travel long distances saves providers time, dollars and minimizes air pollution.