Skip to main page content
U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Dot gov

The .gov means it’s official.
Federal government websites often end in .gov or .mil. Before sharing sensitive information, make sure you’re on a federal government site.

Https

The site is secure.
The https:// ensures that you are connecting to the official website and that any information you provide is encrypted and transmitted securely.

Access keys NCBI Homepage MyNCBI Homepage Main Content Main Navigation
. 2011 May 3:11:e23.

FaceTime for Physicians: Using Real Time Mobile Phone-Based Videoconferencing to Augment Diagnosis and Care in Telemedicine

David G Armstrong, Nicholas Giovinco, Joseph L Mills, Lee C Rogers

FaceTime for Physicians: Using Real Time Mobile Phone-Based Videoconferencing to Augment Diagnosis and Care in Telemedicine

David G Armstrong et al. Eplasty. .

Abstract

Objective/background: Telemedicine has, even in its infancy, had an impact on the provision of healthcare, particularly in rural communities. However, this often relies on an expensive and ponderous infrastructure that reduces the rapid use and spontaneity for consultations.

Methods: Using postoperative and intraoperative examples, we describe the use of one rapid and widely available technology (iPhone FaceTime, Cupertino, California).

Results: The device, in allowing "one button connection" similar to making a phone call, reduced the need for preplanning that is generally required for real-time telemedicine consultation.

Conclusions: The ability to communicate quickly with something that is an afterthought has the potential to alter how we work with our colleagues and patients. Just as with the iPod in music and the laptop in computing, it is not the change in technology, but the change in form factor and ubiquity that alters this landscape.

PubMed Disclaimer

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
(a)–(b). In-clinic consultation of postoperative patient, captured from the video stream.
Figure 2
Figure 2
(a)–(d). Images captured from the intraoperative video consultation of urgent case for surgical planning and staging.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

References

    1. Kaufman N. Internet and information technology use in treatment of diabetes. Int J Clin Pract Suppl. 2010;64(166):41–6. - PubMed
    1. Johnston B, Wheeler L, Deuser J, Sousa KH. Outcomes of the Kaiser Permanente Tele-Home Health Research Project. Arch Fam Med. 2000;9(1):40–5. - PubMed
    1. Lim TH, Choi HJ, Kang BS. Feasibility of dynamic cardiac ultrasound transmission via mobile phone for basic emergency teleconsultation. J Telemed Telecare. 2010;16(5):281–5. - PubMed
    1. Schenken LL, Heron DE, Saw CB, Proctor JW. A multi-institutional mobility model for regional deployment of Telesynergy telemedicine systems. J Telemed Telecare. 2009;15(8):377–82. - PMC - PubMed
    1. Colloff E. The promise of technology in the management of the patient with diabetes. Diabetes Technol Ther. 2000;2(1):91–9. - PubMed

LinkOut - more resources