[The value of telemedicine in 2011 : standard care in heart failure therapy?].

Heart failure represents a significant clinical and health economic problem. The implementation of new therapeutic strategies favorably affecting the course of the disease remains insufficient in day to day practice. Thus, the use telemedicine offers a central service and information instrument, such that optimized therapy can be achieved by consistent patient surveillance. Predefined vital parameters are automatically transmitted to the telemedicine center; if individually predefined limits are exceeded, therapeutic means are immediately initiated. The service is available to patients 24 h/day throughout the year in case cardio-pulmonary symptoms are experienced. This patient-oriented use of technology should not replace the physician-patient relationship, but improves and supports the participation and self-management of patients.