Telemedicine represents the medicine of the future, with advanced big data services. The Oxford dictionary defines telemedicine as “the remote diagnosis and treatment of patients by means of telecommunications technology” [1]. The advantages of a telemedicine program are undeniable, including easy access to specialists, lower cost, medical access for patients without health insurance and in rural areas, medical support for patients with chronic conditions, among others [2].

In terms of technology, a telemedicine solution integrates big data dimensions. To clarify, these dimensions refers that all big data project characterize by 7 dimensions named: value, volume, variety, visualization, veracity, variability, and velocity. Here, it selected 3 of them to figure out how they cover a telemedicine program, along with its challenges. Volume means that a big data project contains large volumes of data (large that it can’t even be stored on a personal computer). Veracity refers that collected data must be accurate and complete. And the value means that a big data project has a cost, therefore, its contribution must be justified. In a typical telemedicine program for rural areas, doctors connect virtually with their patients without using essential instruments, such as the stethoscope. Although doctors need these instruments, its high cost and good use in telemedicine is often complex. That is, it is not easy that any patient uses a stethoscope as good as a doctor. And it is also inconceivable that a good electrocardiogram test can be taken by a smartwatch (appropriated instruments are needed, which are expensive).

To overcome these limitations, there are some technologies (smart instruments) on the market that can be handled by patients. In relation to data collection, a telemedicine program normally storages measurements from patients. To control a disease remotely, patient’s body measurements are taken frequently. As this frequency might be 2 times a day, a significant volume of data can be collected from a vast group of patients. In addition, it is important to assist doctors in detecting urgent anomalies that require in-situ attention (e.g., a potential heart-attack). This implies that the integration of predictive algorithms in collected data is crucial. At the level of big data and its 3 dimensions previously mentioned, the volume is present in the large amount of data collected by remote patients. The veracity is the data source from appropriated instruments with procedures to guarantee completeness and accuracy. And the value implies the costs for using cloud computing for data storage and algorithm processing, justified by a better health service.

References:

[1] Malhotra N, Sakthivel P, Gupta N, et al Telemedicine: a new normal in COVID era; perspective from a developing nation Postgraduate Medical Journal 2022;98:e79-e80.

Link: Telemedicine: a new normal in COVID era; perspective from a developing nation | Postgraduate Medical Journal (bmj.com)

[2] Corey Whelan,17 Benefits of Telemedicine for Doctors and Patients.Medically reviewed by Meredith Goodwin, MD, FAAFP, November 9, 2020.

Link: Telemedicine Benefits: 17 Advantages for Patients and Doctors (healthline.com)