Learning Through Telemedicine Networks

Telemedicine is advocated for its potential to improve the accessibility and quality of health care delivery while lowering costs [1]. Although the potential benefits of telemedicine have long been a subject of research and intense discussion, the results of actual implementations have been far from conclusive. Most current research, which views telemedicine as a substitute for travel and a basis for economies of scale, is rather limited in exploring the full potential of telemedicine. In this paper, we develop a new framework in which organizational learning is the theoretical basis for explaining the development and potential benefits of telemedicine. We conceptualize telemedicine as an integrated ITenabled health care network of collaborative relationships. A well-developed telemedicine network is high in density, maintains a balance of strong and weak network ties, and is comprised of a diverse set of relationships. This type of network facilitates learning through the exchange, t...

• Type: Conference
• Year: 2003
• Where: HICSS
• Authors: Liqiong Deng, Marshall Scott Poole
• Keywords: Biometrics, HICSS 2003, System Sciences, Telemedicine, Telemedicine Networks, Telemedicine Practice