PATIENT RECORD MANAGEMENT. Patient record management
involves the storage and retrieval of medical information related
to a specific person. Patient information may be gathered
manually (such as an X-ray on film) or electronically (such as
a patient history data record). Patient record management via
telemedicine involves converting nonelectronic forms of information
(such as the X-ray) into electronic forms (data files) and
managing these data files to integrate data, voice, digitized
images, or video. These files are stored in a computer and can
be transmitted to workstations at a medical center, physician’s
office, or other site equipped to manage the telemedicine
information request. Rapidly transporting image data and diagnoses
between clinicians and medical doctors can add substantially
to improved patient care.