Successful development of telemedicine systems--seven core principles.

This article discusses seven core principles that underlie the development of successful telemedicine systems. These principles have been formulated from evidence in the literature and from the personal experience of setting up three telemedicine systems in Australia. Of particular importance has been the observation of failed telemedicine systems, of which there are many examples in the world literature. It is important to learn from history by studying both the successful and the unsuccessful components of these programmes. Telemedicine is still a relatively new area of interest, and while the technology is rapidly evolving, changing and fascinating, it is still the human factors that tend to determine the success or failure of telemedicine projects. These cannot be ignored.