Socioeconomic stakes in the development of telemedicine

Abstract

This brief article points out that more empirical knowledge is required about the diverse factors that influence the diffusion, implementation, outcomes and behaviours associated with the spread of information and communication technologies (ICT). This includes the domain of telemedicine and ICT-based outpatient care. A detailed understanding of these processes and the participants involved offers the potential to illuminate the multiplicity of inter-related issues with which medical practitioners and health-care policy makers must contend. More important, it is only through such a detailed, user-centred understanding--as opposed to abstract assessments of technological potential--that we can formulate effective strategies that do not lose sight of the clinical and therapeutic aspects of health care in the quest to improve its delivery.

The Effect of Gender on Perceived Benefits of and Drivers for ICT Adoption in Australian Medical Practices

“…Studies (Keddie & Jones, 2005;Lougheed, 2004) have shown that ICT use in medical practices has expanded from being a clinical tool to include business and practice management. Recent studies (Bonneville & Pare, 2006;Lievens & Jordanova, 2004) suggest that for any medical practice to remain viable, there must be parity between medical and business efficiency. Indeed, Kuruvilla et al (2004) suggest that ICT use in general practice centralises geographically dispersed resources, thus promoting flexibility and economies of scale, promotes efficiency, enhances quality of care and encourages partnerships between practitioners and between patients and practitioners.…”

Do Organisational Characteristics Explain The Differences Between Drivers of ICT Adoption in Rural and Urban General Practices in Australia?

“…At first glance these may appear to be at odds with one another, with clinical use aimed at quality and efficiency of medical care, and with business use aimed at profitability and budgetary concerns. However, recent studies (Bonneville & Pare, 2006;Lievens & Jordanova, 2004;Rahimi & Vimarlund, 2007) suggest that, for any medical or healthcare function to be truly viable, there must be a balance between medical and business efficiency. Indeed, Kuruvilla et al (2004) suggest that the use of ICTs in general practice not only centralises geographically dispersed resources, thus promoting flexibility and economies of scale, but also promotes efficiency, enhances quality of care and encourages partnerships both between practitioners as well as between patients and practitioners.…”

Decision Making Concerning the Acquisition and Use of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) in Medical Practices

“…At first glance these may appear to be at odds with one another, clinical aiming at quality and efficiency of medical care and business aiming towards profitability and budgetary concerns. However, recent studies (Bonneville & Pare 2006, Lievens & Jordanova 2004 suggest that for any medical or healthcare function to be truly viable there must be equality between medical and business efficiency. Indeed, Kuruvilla et al (2004) suggest that the use of ICT in general practice not only centralise geographically dispersed resources, thus promoting flexibility and economies of scale, but they promote efficiency, enhance quality of care and encourage partnerships both between practitioners as well as between patients and practitioners.…”