Design and implementation of a novel approach to implement telemedicine in rural India using advancements made in communications and Information technology

Abstract

In India as per the survey conducted by Indian Medical Society (IMS) in the year 2009, it has been revealed that 75% of qualified consulting doctors practice in urban centers and 23% in semi urban areas and only 2% at rural areas whereas majority of the patients come from rural areas. The non availability of proper medical facilities at right time is a huge problem for people at rural places. Providing a cost-effective solution for this problem by utilizing the available resources to give good medical facilities to not only to urban but also to rural areas definitely reduces the gap present. The challenges that have to be faced to achieve this change are improve patient safety, improve the quality and efficiency of patient care, and reduce healthcare delivery costs at rural areas. The method that can be applied successfully to overcome all these challenges is Telemedicine. This paper introduces the innovative concept of developing an efficient Electronic Health Record (EHR) used to implement Telemedicine by utilizing the advances made in both Information technology and Communication systems. This application acts as a bridge between skilled doctors and the rural people.