Information and Communication Technology (ICT) Frameworks in Telehealth

This book aims to explore technology solutions and systems to help people in remote areas in order to improve medical care. Access to health care services is critical to good health, but residents of remote areas face a variety of access barriers. The obstacles faced by health care providers and patients in rural areas are very different from those in urban areas. This could be caused by economic factors, cultural and social differences, educational deficiencies, lack of recognition by legislators, and the sheer isolation of living in inland areas, all of which conspire to create health care disparities and hinder people living in inland areas in their struggle to lead normal, healthy lives. Based on available analyses, further progress is needed to promote appropriateness of care, address geographic imbalances in health care use, and prevent the spread of risk factors including chronic diseases and regular health problems. To eradicate these problems, it is essential to develop a telemedicine system with ICT integration that will help patients in inland areas by using contemporary technologies: it would thus be possible for patients to meet their goals using these systems even without the presence of a physician since authenticated prescriptions are generated by doctors and can be transmitted to patients electronically.

The volume will contain a number of ideas from researchers who are already working to find solutions and will give insights into exploring innovative methods and new systems developed.