I can think of no more rewarding use of broadband communications services than the application of the Internet to healthcare, known as telemedicine.   Telemedicine brings patients and health professionals together regardless of geographic location so as to provide consultations, ongoing care and health related distance learning. I am the Medical Director in the Office of Telemedicine for the University of Virginia Medical System and President of the American Telemedicine Association.  I am also a  pediatric cardiologist, which  provides me with real-life, experience in the uses of Telemedicine.

As an example, on New Year’s Day 2000, a newborn's abnormal echocardiogram was transmitted from a cardiologist in Winchester, Virginia – about 130 miles away – to my office in Charlottesville.  Through the use of broadband, I was able to spot a very rare, imminently life-threatening but treatable cardiac defect in the newborn.  Broadband helped to save that baby’s life.

Hundreds of my colleagues at the University of Virginia have supported thousands of clinical encounters using broadband communications networks since our program launched in 1995.  Via our network, physicians and patients participate in  clinical consultations with specialists at our Medical Center without bearing the burden, expense and in some cases, the discomfort of travel many hours from home.   We are about to launch a home telehealth program in conjunction with Habitat for Humanity and Comcast.  We work with Verizon to connect many patients from Virginia’s federally qualified health centers. We provide mobile digital mammography services in rural Virginia linking back to our radiologists for early reads via our broadband communications network.  Read more