Telemedicine
ABSTRACT
This paper will focus primarily on the potential for a cross-border telemedicine network between the U.S. and Mexico. It will also touch briefly on some of the barriers in addition to summarizing a few existing international telemedicine programs to see if and how they have overcome some of these barriers. Research suggests that Mexico has at least one existing national telemedicine program that shows potential for successful collaboration. Additionally, first-class hospitals like Hospital Cima Hermosillo are already providing services to both Mexican and U.S. patients and is another potential networking partner.
AN INTRODUCTION TO TELEMEDICINE
Many believe that access to affordable and quality health care is a service that should be available to everybody. Unfortunately, this is not the case in many countries including the U.S. and Mexico. Currently, the cost of U.S. healthcare is more expensive than many other developed countries at about $4,887 per person in 2001 (McLean, 2006). The U.S. Federal Trade Commission and the U.S. Department of Justice calculate that the use of telemedicine could lower the cost of medical services by stimulating price competition (McLean, 2006). In Mexico, healthcare access is one of the largest issues. In rural areas indigenous communities have an infant mortality rate that is “58 percent higher and a life expectancy five years lower than the national average and ten years lower than in Mexico City or Monterrey, the largest urban centers” (Barraza-Lloréns, 2002). All of these are issues, both in Mexico and the U.S., have led to innovation and a of variety potential solutions. Recently, the implementation of telemedicine is one of the cutting edge technologies that has surged to the forefront as a viable solution for solving cost, location, and many other issues.
Existing telemedicine applications range from radiology to surgery to psychiatry to cardiology. The commonality between these applications
This paper will focus primarily on the potential for a cross-border telemedicine network between the U.S. and Mexico. It will also touch briefly on some of the barriers in addition to summarizing a few existing international telemedicine programs to see if and how they have overcome some of these barriers. Research suggests that Mexico has at least one existing national telemedicine program that shows potential for successful collaboration. Additionally, first-class hospitals like Hospital Cima Hermosillo are already providing services to both Mexican and U.S. patients and is another potential networking partner.
AN INTRODUCTION TO TELEMEDICINE
Many believe that access to affordable and quality health care is a service that should be available to everybody. Unfortunately, this is not the case in many countries including the U.S. and Mexico. Currently, the cost of U.S. healthcare is more expensive than many other developed countries at about $4,887 per person in 2001 (McLean, 2006). The U.S. Federal Trade Commission and the U.S. Department of Justice calculate that the use of telemedicine could lower the cost of medical services by stimulating price competition (McLean, 2006). In Mexico, healthcare access is one of the largest issues. In rural areas indigenous communities have an infant mortality rate that is “58 percent higher and a life expectancy five years lower than the national average and ten years lower than in Mexico City or Monterrey, the largest urban centers” (Barraza-Lloréns, 2002). All of these are issues, both in Mexico and the U.S., have led to innovation and a of variety potential solutions. Recently, the implementation of telemedicine is one of the cutting edge technologies that has surged to the forefront as a viable solution for solving cost, location, and many other issues.
Existing telemedicine applications range from radiology to surgery to psychiatry to cardiology. The commonality between these applications
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