The idea behind telemedicine is that if a doctor or specialist can see (and speak to) a patient via video or computer links, then they can provide diagnosis and help to people in remote places, or when it is not practical to move the patient. Telemedicine can also be used to support diagnosis by contacting a specialist in a rare disorder from across the other side of the world, or to help educate doctors in isolated areas and to aid researchers separated geographically.
These links are to help you find out more:
The Telemedicine Information Exchange provides a good resource for
telemedicine from a US viewpoint.
A short introduction to UK telemedicine projects.
Contact The Institute of Telemedicine and Telecare at The Queen's University Belfast.
The Royal Society of Medicine publishes The Journal of Telemedicine and Telecare.
This is a database of telemedicine projects in the UK.