Telemedicine Applications in Pediatrics

The roots of telemedicine began in the 1920s when physicians answered questions via radio, with the first video transmission of medical information occurring a few years later. In 1952, video transmission of an x-ray occurred between two sites in Pennsylvania 24 miles apart. In 1965, surgeons in Geneva watched and asked questions of Dr. Michael DeBakey, while he performed heart surgery in Houston. In 1968, Massachusetts General Hospital established a microwave video link between its emergency department and a nurse-staffed medical station at Logan Airport. Within the last 5 years, utilization of telemedicine has increased significantly for radiology, cardiology, and orthopedic surgery services.