Telemedicine – Its state and perspectives in consideration of the humanontogenetic principle based upon the unity of complexity and space

Abstract

The demographic situation, with a clear international trend towards a society largedly populated by the aged and the chronically ill presents a huge challenge to the resources of the global healthcare system. It is evident that existing structures and processes cannot provide an adequate qualitative and quantitative response to the problem – innovative patient care systems are the only way forward in a fast-changing world. This is especially true when considering how best to deal with chronic ailments such as coronary heart disease, cardiac insufficiency, asthma/COPD and diabetes with its numerous, debilitating manifestations. In this context integrated patient care concepts offer the most promising solution. This is where the strategic significance and practical advantages of telematics as practical application of modern telecommunications and information technology in the field of healthcare lie – whereby “eHealth” encompasses all healthcare services, quality improvements and cost-optimizations which can be achieved through the implementation of modern means of data acquisition/management/communication. Digitalized data allow for faster, secure and more efficient healthcare knowledge transfer together with networked data access and an altogether better quality in the field of diagnostics, therapy management and post treatment care. Rapid technical progress, with the development of ever-more efficient logistic frameworks, allows for the creation of an efficient telemedical system for optimized patient service and interdisciplinary patient-physician-hospital-rehabhomecare data flow – a system where all the healthcare players strive for concerted action to the benefit of the patient, bringing about tangible cost reductions at the same time.