Information on telemedicine

Area of Science:

• Health Informatics
• Digital Health
• Medical Technology

Background:

• Telemedicine practice has shown steady growth in information and global interest since 1999.
• Despite challenges like outdated websites and semantic ambiguity with telehealth, telemedicine is increasingly recognized worldwide.
• The proliferation of telemedicine societies, conferences, and online resources indicates a robust and active field.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess the current landscape of telemedicine information resources.
• To highlight the growing body of literature and established presence of telemedicine globally.
• To identify challenges and reliable sources for navigating telemedicine information.

Main Methods:

• Literature review of telemedicine-related publications and resources since 1999.
• Analysis of the growth and staying power of telemedicine societies and conferences.
• Evaluation of various information sources including the internet, books, journals, and professional organizations.
• Assessment of search engine effectiveness and challenges in information retrieval.

Main Results:

• A significant increase in telemedicine literature and a growing number of well-attended conferences globally.
• Telemedicine societies and websites demonstrate sustained interest and activity.
• Improved information retrieval through advanced search engines like Google.
• Persistent challenges include outdated websites and semantic confusion between 'telemedicine' and 'telehealth'.

Conclusions:

• Telemedicine, while not yet mainstream, is a familiar and growing part of global health terminology.
• Reliable information on telemedicine is accessible through diverse resources, including online platforms, publications, and professional networks.
• Navigating the growing telemedicine information landscape requires critical evaluation and perseverance to distinguish credible sources.