Wireless medicine

• Technological developments of wireless devices and systems enable diagnoses to be made more rapidly and at the point of care. They also allow physicians and healthcare providers to connect remotely with patients and caregivers.

• The value of applying wireless technology to healthcare has become readily apparent. Wireless medical innovations are being introduced at a fairly rapid pace, and wireless medicine will play an increasingly greater role in helping to contain spiraling healthcare costs. Telemedicine, e-health, m-health (using mobile devices), and other aspects of wireless medicine are becoming state-of-the-art elements for the most effective patient care.

• Telemedicine is a rapidly developing application of clinical medicine where medical information is transferred through interactive audiovisual media for the purpose of consulting, and sometimes remote medical procedures or examinations.
• mHealth includes the use of mobile devices in collecting aggregate and patient level health data, providing healthcare information to practitioners, researchers, and patients, real-time monitoring of patient vitals, and direct provision of care (via mobile telemedicine).
• eHealth (also written e-health) is a relatively recent term for healthcare practice which is supported by electronic processes and communication.
• Telehealth is the delivery of health-related services and information via telecommunications technologies. Telehealth delivery could be as simple as two health professionals discussing a case over the telephone, or as sophisticated as using videoconferencing between providers at facilities in two countries, or even as complex as robotic technology.