The Telemedicine Information Exchange: 10 years' experience

Area of Science:

• Health Informatics
• Digital Health

Background:

• The Telemedicine Information Exchange (TIE) website has been a key resource for telemedicine information since 1995.
• Its sustained presence indicates a significant role in the field of telemedicine.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the success of the Telemedicine Information Exchange (TIE) website.
• To highlight the website's contributions to telemedicine information dissemination and user support.

Main Methods:

• Analysis of website longevity and user traffic growth.
• Assessment of database content, including the bibliographic database and active telemedicine programs.
• Monitoring user engagement and feedback over time.

Main Results:

• The TIE website has experienced steady growth, reaching over 20,000 visitors monthly by 2005.
• Its bibliographic database is the most extensive available, containing over 16,000 telemedicine citations.
• The 'Active Telemedicine Programs' database, updated over 10 years, is the second most visited section.

Conclusions:

• The TIE website demonstrates success through its longevity, extensive resources, and consistent user engagement.
• Continuous monitoring allows for adaptation to user needs, such as the creation of a 'Home Telehealth' section.
• The findings underscore the value of providing credible, up-to-date online information resources in the evolving field of telemedicine.