The healthcare system has improved a lot in the last decade due to recent advances in network and wireless technologies that are connected with recent advances in ubiquitous and nanotechnologies computing systems. Telemedicine is used to describe the use of telecommunication technology in diagnosing health conditions, treatment, as well as taking care of patients.
This is aimed at offering expert-based healthcare especially to remote locations that are understaffed through the use of improved communication and telecommunication technologies. Telemedicine allows health services to be undertaken using an electronic network, something that has changed the healthcare sector.
There are three main categories of telemedicine; teleconsultation, telementoring, and telemonitoring.
Teleconsultation
This is one of the most widely known categories of telemedicine. It basically refers to the online visit where a consultation between the doctor and patient take place. It can be done through the use of videoconferencing technology or by simply storing a particular picture and forwarding it to the healthcare provider for further interpretations.
Telementoring
This is a situation where one medical practitioner gets mentorship from another, who could be more specialized to find ways of helping a patient. A good example is a doctor who has an autism patient in a rural location and is looking for help in managing that particular patient. The best thing to do is to connect to an established health institution who will have one of their mentors provide assistance online. That is telementoring.
Telemonitoring
This is a case where a doctor receives data from a patient at home while connected to a certain biosensor. It can be done by an electronic scale, a vital-sign monitor, a glucometer or any other any device that can effectively monitor bio-parameter. The doctor will then use the results they have obtained from the test to start administering treatment or prescribe drugs to the patient. This form of telemedicine allows a patient to be easily monitored from home, without having to travel to the health facility.
These are the three major categories of telemedicine.