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Telemedicine Comes Into Its Own

Posted by samzenpus on from the dial-a-doctor dept.

goG writes "Telemedicine — providing care using advanced communications technology may be coming into its own with a little help from Uncle Sam. The Obama administration recently awarded $795 million in grants and loans for 66 new broadband projects. Most of these projects will involve using videoconferencing equipment to allow doctors to consult on medical procedures or examinations remotely."

6 of 50 comments (clear)

  1. why are my tax dollars paying for this? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Insightful

    Medical practices bring in enough money to do this on their own if/when it is appropriate for their business to have the capability. I did some consulting work for a large medical practice like 9 years ago to give them this capability and they paid for it without having to spend tax dollars.

    In a down economy with an enormous budget deficit, this is just completely irresponsible.

  2. Re:Hold on a minute.... by hedwards · · Score: 4, Insightful

    Um, dude, there wouldn't be an internet were it not for US Federal funding. African health care is a non sequitor, it hasn't got anything to do with the technology funds, nor does it in any way demonstrate that they shouldn't be funding it.

  3. Outsourcing? by ascari · · Score: 2, Insightful

    OK, great but this initiative lays the groundwork to outsource certain medical specialities like radiology and pathology to lower cost countries. Why is this a good way to spend tax money?

  4. Outsource them all? by bigfootchick · · Score: 0, Insightful

    If you outsource medicine to outsourcing companies, this is what will happen to your data!!

    You can assume your data will also be on the roadside, like this Microsoft tech support.;)

  5. Irony check? by ErikTheRed · · Score: 5, Insightful

    Am I the only one who grasped the dissonance between the words "comes into its own" and "$795 million in grants." Have we really stooped to the point where people have mentally redefined success and functionality as the ability to successfully lobby the government for cash?

    You keep using those words. I do not think they mean what you think they mean.

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  6. How about using Skype? by flyingfsck · · Score: 2, Insightful

    I have worked in multiple places with one thing in common: Gawdawful ridiculously expensive video conference systems. We are a bunch of engineers and we cannot get the fscking things to work, so how would a bunch of doctors manage with it?

    In contrast, the cheap/free Skype works without any issues.

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