Is 2014 the Year of Telemedicine?

Image by Mayo Clinic

By Dan Limbach

Sometimes a great concept is ahead of the infrastructure it requires to become fully adopted by society. Telemedicine is no exception. Once relegated to expensive gadgets and proprietary networks, telemedicine has recently benefited from the explosion of smartphones, tablets, and other mobile devices. In 2013, over one billion smartphones were shipped, a high water mark for the devices. According to IDC, this growth rate may have peaked, underscoring the maturity of the market.

Data transmission is the other necessary component for a telemedicine infrastructure. With Wi-Fi and cellular networks blanketing the first world, it’s safe to say few people in these areas cannot have access to telemedicine.

Now that these two essential components are in place, the road is clear for an explosion in telemedicine expansion.

Obviously, there are endless issues that must be understood by companies providing telemedicine solutions. Medicare and the Affordable Care Act are two major forces in play. Millions of people are enrolling in the new plan as you read this.

Fortunately, the American Telemedicine Association has been building a community since 1993. ATA is a pioneer in promoting the use of telemedicine, and continues to lead the industry in covering the key issues and educating industry professionals. They are a one-stop shop for news and information. This is their vision for telemedicine.

Telemedicine will be fully integrated into healthcare systems to improve quality, access, equity and affordability of healthcare throughout the world.

One of the best ways to engage with the state of the industry, is to immerse yourself in the community at a major conference. ATA 2014 is the premier telemedicine for professionals. Their annual conference will occur from May 17 – 20, 2014, in Baltimore, MD.

It’s packed with inspirational keynotes, informative sessions, certification courses, networking opportunities, and much more. Please visit the website and register today.