Telemedicine Is About People, Not Technology

PRLog (Press Release) - Sep. 19, 2012 - The emergence of telemedicine is important not because of the technologies used but because of the improved access to care these technologies can offer patients. Currently, there exist many barriers to widespread acceptance in the form of regulatory restrictions and lack of commitment and investment from healthcare stakeholders.

Fortunately, in spite of these barriers, the telemedicine market is poised for advancement over the next few years for a number of reasons. Here are just a few:

* The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services has expanded the range of reimbursable telemedicine treatments. In May of this year, CMS announced more than $122 million in innovation grants. Much of these funds are slated for telemedicine projects. The American Telemedicine Association was consulted by CMS on where best to use this money.

* The Federal Communications Commission has sworn in two new commissioners who consider broadband deployment for telemedicine of priority.

* Many legislators in Congress support changes to telehealth policies.

* As hospitals continue to actively develop strategic partnerships through mergers and acquisitions, telemedicine will be a key factor in allowing institutions to remain competitive in the marketplace.

Telemedicine can be a remarkable tool to improve patient care. The benefits offered by telemedicine are many and will continue to grow as new technologies develop and regulations are reconsidered. All this is, and will continue to be, in the interest of providing patients with the best, most convenient, and most accessible care possible.

For more than a decade, GlobalMed has been equipping healthcare professionals with cutting-edge telemedicine technologies. To learn more about telemedicine and all the products offered by GlobalMed, visit http://www.globalmed.com.

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