This volume is a practical guide for health care organizations seeking to implement telemedicine systems and use telemedicine effectively in clinical practice and professional education. The book defines telemedicine needs in different geographic arenas and in different health care settings such as rural health care, correctional institutions, managed care organizations, military settings, and aerospace. The legal and ethical issues involved in implementing telemedicine are also addressed. Detailed guidelines are presented for linking the appropriate technology to meet organizational needs and developing protocols and organizational structure to support telemedicine. Close attention is given to the use of telemedicine for training medical, nursing, and physician assistant students, for continuing education of community practitioners, and for faculty development. Chapters examine the impact of telemedicine on diagnostic and support services such as pharmacy, clinical laboratory services, and radiology. A major portion of the book focuses on telemedicine applications in specific medical and surgical subspecialties