Advances in wireless technology are helping expand the use of telemedicine and allowing doctors to remotely monitor patients’ vital signs, take x-rays, and provide input on surgical procedures, according to experts.
A March 27, 2019 AFP article pointed out that 5G wireless networks, now being rolled out by telecommunications companies, open up new possibilities for telemedicine, including giving surgeons the ability to remotely control robots to perform surgical procedures in distant locations.
Michael Barnett, assistant professor of health policy and management at Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, told AFP that while patients may prefer to meet with doctors in person, the use of telemedicine will continue to grow.
“The question is where it will plateau,” Barnett said. “Use is still pretty uncommon, so it still has plenty of room to grow.”
Read the AFP article: New tech taking telemedicine to the next level