História telemedicíny

Telemedicine uses modern communication technologies to deliver healthcare remotely. It arose from the practical need to diagnose quickly and accurately, save time for patients and healthcare professionals, and cope with the growing pressure of an aging population. At the same time, it requires a clear distinction between certified devices and ordinary wearable electronics.

Why telemedicine

Life is increasingly hectic, and people often postpone visiting a doctor, even though early diagnosis is decisive for many diseases. Telemedicine enables basic screening even at home, saves a trip to the hospital, and can reduce system costs. The aim is to detect diseases earlier and adapt care to today’s lifestyle.

The World Health Organization describes telemedicine as the provision of healthcare in which distance is key and information and communication technologies are used. It encompasses diagnosis, treatment, prevention, research, and education—the entire chain of care. Another view sees it simply as “remote medicine,” which relies on technical means of transmitting information.

From the telegraph to orbit: milestones

Shortly after the invention of the telegraph (1844), the first attempts appeared to organize patient transport or the supply of medicines remotely. The telephone (1876) brought consultations with a doctor and even the first attempts to “listen to” the lungs over the phone; later, stethoscopes were adapted to transmit sound. As early as the beginning of the 20th century, ECGs were transmitted remotely, and radio communication helped ships with medical consultations.

In 1920, a service for seafarers was established in Bergen that provided instructions remotely and operates in various forms to this day. The 1950s brought television broadcasts for educating medical students and consultations between universities and hospitals. Space research accelerated remote medical monitoring: ECG, brain waves, breathing, temperature, and oxygen consumption were tracked in real time. In the 1980s, the first commercial solutions appeared, for example a defibrillator controlled via telephone, and the internet opened the way to today’s teleconsultations and the transfer of medical data.

Wearable sensors, certification, and tomorrow

From the cumbersome Holter ECG of 1947, we have moved to miniature sensors and watches that can measure a lot. However, it is necessary to distinguish between consumer wearable electronics and medical devices. In Europe, new legislation (MDR) applies, and without proper certification, data cannot be used to draw medical conclusions.

Certification is still pending for new solutions as well, for example for home systems for sleep diagnostics, where individual modules (e.g., thermometer, pulse oximeter) may already be certified. The challenge is the quality of the signal in everyday environments and its comparability with hospital measurements. The future is heading toward “invisible” sensors in everyday objects, but with it grows the need for clear rules, ethics, and clear communication with the public.

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History of telemedicine

Why telemedicine

From the telegraph to orbit: milestones

Wearable sensors, certification, and tomorrow

Erik Vavrinský

History of telemedicine

Why telemedicine

From the telegraph to orbit: milestones

Wearable sensors, certification, and tomorrow

Erik Vavrinský

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