American College of Physicians consider telemedicine

[MeSci]

from Physician's First Watch:

ACP Offers Recommendations for Telemedicine in Primary Care
By Jenni Whalen
Edited by
- David G. Fairchild, MD, MPH

Evidence-based guidelines for using telemedicine in primary care practices are needed, according to an American College of Physicians position paper in Annals of Internal Medicine.

While the ACP supports the use of telemedicine, they highlight several recommendations:

-- Telemedicine should be used primarily to maintain a professional, ongoing patient-physician relationship.
-- Telemedicine is a "reasonable alternative" for patients who lack access to quality medical care.
-- Physicians should consider the issue of technology illiteracy.
-- Federal funding should be used to increase access to telemedicine.
-- Security issues, reimbursement, and physician liability should also be taken into consideration.

An editorialist writes: "The innovation that telemedicine promises is ... awakening us to the many things that we thought required face-to-face contact, but actually do not."

Link(s):
Annals of Internal Medicine article (Free) http://click.jwatch.org/cts/click?q=227;68213113;OeAbawBFha/65bO5NpiQ+ioeO9vfZlqLrU+tLuna3Gs=
Annals of Internal Medicine editorial (Subscription required) http://click.jwatch.org/cts/click?q=227;68213113;OeAbawBFha/65bO5NpiQ+l/pz0jzBYfLrU+tLuna3Gs=
Background: NEJM Journal Watch Psychiatry coverage of telemedicine for depression (Your NEJM Journal Watch registration required) http://click.jwatch.org/cts/click?q=227;68213113;OeAbawBFha/65bO5NpiQ+r4CkZeMpopWrU+tLuna3Gs=