In rural and sparsely populated countries, telemedicine can be a vital and life-saving link to health care, and in those regions where demands on hospitals are ever increasing, it can provide a safe and comfortable alternative to hospital-based therapy. The second edition of this introductory guide to telemedicine and telecare services is invaluable to new practitioners in this growing field of medicine. The book describes the benefits of telemedicine and highlights the potential problems. The authors provide numerous examples of how telemedicine is used in the United States, Australia, and Scandinavia.

Telecommunications bring the potential to improve both the quality of and access to health care in the remotest areas of the developing world. Telemedicine offers solutions for emergency medical assistance, long distance consultation, administration and logistics, supervision and quality assurance and education and training for health-care professionals and providers. Telehealth in the Developing World aims to balance the relative lack of published information on successful telehealth solutions in the developing world. It is written for all e-health and telehealth proponents interested in learning about, or contributing to the implementation of, appropriate solutions for 80% of the world's population. Topics featured include: Teledermatology in Cambodia Telepediatrics in Chechnya Telepathology in India - using digital cameras and email HealthNet networks in Nepal Medical missions for Children in Mongolia International HIV/AIDS discussion lists The Aga Khan Telehealth Network in Pakistan Access to mobile phones and internet in the Philippines Exchanging X-ray images in Ghana Web-based oncology registries and a virtual oncology hospital in Brazil Surgical training in the developing world The iPath international email network