Authors' objectives:

To prepare a report on telemedicine based on health technology assessment reports previously published by INAHTA organisations in Canada, Finland and France.

Authors' recommendations: There has been a rapid development of the electronic production and management of all types of information, and the capacity of networks is constantly increasing. The price for these technologies, in particular the costs of transferring information electronically from one place to another will continue to decrease. An ever increasing proportion of medical information, e.g. in the form of images, will be produced electronically, thereby reducing the gap between telemedicine and ordinary techniques. Many projects are currently underway in the field of telemedicine. Until recently however, very few studies have been made comparing the impact of this type of patient treatment to the standard method of direct contact. Nor has much light been thrown on the potentially profitable impacts to society of putting these techniques into normal use. The situation has not changed significantly since 1995. No systematic reviews exist that could form the basis for the implementation of, or the integration of telemedicine in the healthcare. Neither are there any HTAs that could throw light on the economic and organising consequences of the introduction and implementation of telemedicine. Under these circumstances, it is important that telemedicine is introduced in a way that allows for an evaluation of its impact.

Authors' methods: Overview

Project Status: Completed

URL for project: http://www.nokc.no/

Year Published: 1998

English language abstract: An English language summary is available

Publication Type: Not Assigned

Country: Norway

Organisation Name: Norwegian Institute of Public Health

Contact Address: Universitetsgata 2, Postbox 7004 St. Olavs plass, NO-0310 Oslo NORWAY. Tel: +47 23 25 50 00; Fax: +47 23 25 50 10;

Contact Name: Berit.Morland@nokc.no, dagny.fredheim@nokc.no

Contact Email: Berit.Morland@nokc.no, dagny.fredheim@nokc.no

Copyright: Norwegian Knowledge Centre for the Health Services