Telemedicine means remote medicine. This word was introduced in the 70s by a person named "Thomas Bird" . Many definitions of this word have been proposed, and according to the  ITU definition , telemedicine is the practice of medical care using audio-visual communication. This practice includes maintenance, care, diagnosis, counseling and treatment, while at this stage there is also attention to the transfer of medical data and educational issues.

In a more comprehensive and complete view, it can be said that, in general, telemedicine is the use of medical and communication technologies to exchange any information, including data, voice or video communications between a doctor and a patient or a doctor and healthcare professionals in separate geographical locations and to It means creating the possibility of exchange for medical, healthcare, research and educational purposes.

Telemedicine services are divided into three groups of data, audio and video information. Information and voice services are provided based on notification by telephone lines. The cheapest type of medical information service is by phone, which is also used in Iran under the title of doctor at home. This service is divided into two types. The first group is offline. For example, the sound of the patient's heart is sent to the doctor and recorded by the device to be analyzed, and sometimes the output is drawn as a curve and the result is announced to the patient.
The second group is online. For example, the voice of the patient reaches the doctor through a direct telephone line, and the doctor makes a decision on the spot and announces the result. Video information and services, including these services, can be mentioned as video conferencing and image transfer and radiography. These services are expensive, but they are very useful. Sometimes this information reaches the treating doctor with scanner devices, and sometimes this happens through digital x-rays, which directly convert the images into digital form and transmit them. This method is common in radiography centers today.

Qasim Jan Babaei, the Deputy Director of Medical Affairs of the Ministry of Health in March 2017, told IRNA's health reporter about telemedicine: to be able to provide some services such as remote imaging for emergency patients by a nurse or a trained person, so that a specialist doctor from a distant point can, for example, See the ultrasound and submit the report. This issue is desired by the Minister of Health, but it has not been officially started yet. Because there are also issues related to insurance coverage that need to be resolved. Telemedicine is one of the programs of the Ministry of Health. For example, the virtual clinic can reduce the burden of visiting people in person.

Source: IRNA