Clinical ICT systems: augmenting case management.

In order to improve the diagnosis and subsequent care given to patients, health-care workers involved in the management of their care, as well as the treatment itself, are increasingly looking at the role that information and communication technologies (ICTs) can play in supporting the complex interactions between patient, doctor or nurse, consultant and medical equipment. Effective communication both amongst health-care workers and between health-care workers and their patients in both primary and secondary care is vital; ICTs can play an important role in this. In this paper possible interpretations given to the term "telemedicine" are discussed, and then attention is turned to the challenges involved in human interaction and the role of ICTs. An example of a clinical ICT system (AIDMAN) is used to illustrate how face-to-face interaction has usefully been supported by way of a "virtual" consultation, which facilitates remote medical diagnosis and can provide improved case management.