Telemedicine--the use of telecommunications and computer technology to provide medical information and services at a distance--is growing in popularity. Because of the rapid advances being made in the technology, more and more clinical applications can now be performed via telemedicine. However, the decision to adopt telemedicine should be made only if a clinical need for this technology can be demonstrated. And successful implementation and operation depend on specifically designing the technical infrastructure--that is, the computer hardware and software and the telecommunications system--to meet this clinical need. But even more important is making sure that everyone involved in such a program, including clinicians, telecommunications suppliers, and patients, understands the objectives, benefits, and particular requirements of telemedicine. In this Guidance Article, we provide an overview of the issues surrounding telemedicine. We present examples of successful telemedicine programs, along with guidance for facilities considering programs of their own. We also outline the barriers to successful implementation. And we discuss how, once a telemedicine program is in place, facilities can evaluate the effect of the program on their delivery of healthcare. In supplementary articles, we discuss the technology used for telemedicine and provide a list of telemedicine resources for readers who wish to learn more about the subject.
远程医疗——利用电信和计算机技术在远距离提供医疗信息和服务——正日益普及。由于技术的快速发展，现在越来越多的临床应用可以通过远程医疗来进行。然而，只有在能够证明对这项技术有临床需求时，才应做出采用远程医疗的决定。而成功的实施和运营取决于专门设计技术基础设施——即计算机硬件和软件以及电信系统——以满足这一临床需求。但更重要的是要确保参与此类项目的每个人，包括临床医生、电信供应商和患者，都了解远程医疗的目标、益处和特殊要求。在这篇指导文章中，我们概述了围绕远程医疗的相关问题。我们列举了成功的远程医疗项目实例，并为考虑开展自身项目的机构提供指导。我们还概述了成功实施的障碍。并且我们讨论了一旦远程医疗项目实施到位，机构如何评估该项目对其医疗服务提供的影响。在补充文章中，我们讨论了用于远程医疗的技术，并为希望更多了解该主题的读者提供一份远程医疗资源清单。
