Telemedicine and the organization of the health sector

Abstract

The widespread introduction of telemedicine would have organizational consequences for the health sector. However, the problem of health-sector organization is complex. A general frame work for analysis of organizational consequences has been developed and consists of eight points. These are: (1) the starting point; (2) mapping of applications of telemedicine where organizational consequences are possible; (3) characterizing the nature of larger organizational consequences; (4) the consequences for the health sector in the chosen area; (5) possible consequences for the number and placement of geographical subunits of the health sector; (6) possible consequences for health sector organizational types; (7) the consequences for the tools of health policy; and (8) design of the change process towards a new organization.