Telemedicine in Neurosurgery

Abstract

  Telemedicine refers to the provision of clinical services to patients in remote geographical locations via real-time bidirectional communication. Considering a sustainability based approach, telemedicine is important in Japan for effective delivery of health care services to local cities and remote regions. Optimization of treatment for acute cerebral stroke is an important component of neurosurgical services. Following advances in communication technology, real-time information sharing may become possible, particularly with regard to therapeutic procedures. This development would facilitate healthcare delivery at nighttime and during holidays when limited medical resources are available even in urban areas. Telemedicine would play an important role in the treatment of conditions that require a high level of diagnostic and therapeutic expertise. However, telemedicine also has the inherent shortcomings of medicine itself. When introducing and operating telemedicine, it is important to discuss the problems such as the scope of responsibility.