Cor Vasa 2010, 52(1-2):55-61 | DOI: 10.33678/cor.2010.011

Telemedicine - a discovery of the third millennium?

Ondřej Ošmera^1,*, Alan Bulava^1,2

¹ Kardiocentrum, Nemocnice České Budějovice, a. s.

² I. interní klinika, Fakultní nemocnice Olomouc a Lékařská fakulta Univerzity Palackého v Olomouci, Olomouc, Česká republika

Telemedicine (telematics for healthcare) provides health care services, activities and systems from one place to another using modern communication technologies. It is a dynamic sphere with a substantial growth in clinical and theoretical applications in chronic disease management. Telemonitoring is the distant evaluation of one's health status. Systems for telemonitoring of patients with implantable cardioverter-defibrillators and cardiac-resynchronisation therapy are broadly used in cardiology. The most advanced is Home Monitoring by BIOTRONIK and it is the only one currently used in the Czech Republic. A number of studies have proved its safety and clinic and economic efficacy. Home Monitoring thus provides the possibility of earlier medical intervention and cost savings by means of better provided healthcare. Telemonitoring is likely to become standard in the management of patients suffering from chronic diseases. There are legislative issues to be solved and reimbursement needs to be negotiated with the health authorities.

Keywords: Telemedicine; Telemonitoring; Implantable devices; Home Monitoring

Published: January 1, 2010  Show citation