[Telemedicine--a review]

Modern telecommunication technology enables medical information and images to be transmitted from the general practitioner to a hospital or between hospitals. This allows the specialist to interactively conduct and control the examination carried out by the GP via the two way sound and picture connection within radiology, pathology, dermatology, psychiatry, cardiology and otorhinolaryngology. The diagnostic quality of the technique is equal to that of an ordinary examination. The method gives the patients access to adequate medical expertise in their home environment, is highly effective and saves cost of transport. The patients are satisfied with being able to meet the experts this way.