Innovations in providing vital healthcare in homes and remote areas could ultimately change the way society views the healthcare markets and services in the future. Telehealth systems promise innovations that can extend a hospital's knowledge and resources, connecting with patients who may not be able to otherwise receive services.

Telehealth Network for Hospital Services: New Methodologies carefully focuses on and describes different networks that link hospitals and their services to patients outside their territory. This reference work not only focuses on the technology that is integral to the function of a telehealth network, but also its users, and the collaboration that is necessary to be successful. Researchers, practitioners, and health professionals interested in understanding health markets and organizations, as well as the innovative technologies that help them function, will greatly benefit from this publication.

Table of Contents

1. Policies on Telemedicine-Enhanced Hospital Services: Prioritization Criteria for the Interventions at Regional Level
Angelo Rossi Mori (Institute of Biomedical Technologies [CNR], Italy), Mariangela Contenti (Institute of Biomedical Technologies [CNR], Italy), Rita Verbicaro (Institute of Biomedical Technologies , [CNR], Italy)

2. Global Telemedicine and eHealth: Advances for Future Healthcare: Using a Systems Approach to Integrate Healthcare Functions
S. A. Davis (University of California Merced, USA)

3. E-Health and Telemedicine in the Elderly: State of the Art
Ilaria Mazzanti (Centro di Telemedicina, Italy), Alessandro Maolo (Centro di Telemedicina, Italy), Roberto Antonicelli (Centro di Telemedicina, Italy)

4. The Role of Telemedicine in Paediatric Cardiology
Brian A. McCrossan (The Royal Belfast Hospital for Sick Children, Northern Ireland), Frank A. Casey (The Royal Belfast Hospital for Sick Children, Northern Ireland)

5. Telemedicine, the European Space Agency, and the Support to the African Population for Infectious Disease Problems: Potentiality and Perspectives for Asia Countries and China
Giorgio Parentela (European Space Agency, France), Pierluigi Mancini (European Space Agency, France), Franco Naccarella (Italian Society of Telemedicine, Italy), Zhang Feng (First People Hospital of Jiao Tong University, People's Republic of China), Giovanni Rinaldi (Italian Society of Telemedicine, Italy)

6. DREAM Programme: Use of Telemedicine as a Model to Cooperation with Africa
Michelangelo Bartolo (S. Giovanni Addolorata Hospital, Italy), Andrea Nucita (University of Messina, Italy)

7. The Effects of Telehealth on Patients with Long-Term Conditions in Routine Healthcare Use and Lessons from Practical Application
Victor Vuni Joseph (Leeds Institute of Health Sciences (LIHS), University of Leeds, UK & Doncaster Primary Care Trust (PCT), UK)

8. Telemedicine Utilization, Availability of Physicians, Distance, and Urbanity: An Exploratory Study
Ricky C. Leung (University of Missouri School of Medicine, USA)

9. Leading the Technological Innovation in Healthcare Systems: The Telematic Medicine Approach
Vincenzo Gull (Aditech SRL, Italy)

10. Telemedicine Service of San Giovanni-Addolorata Hospital in Rome: Analysis of About Two Years of Activity (2008- Early 2011)
Michelangelo Bartolo (S.Giovanni Addolorata Hospital, Italy), Gianpiero Guerrieri (S.Giovanni Addolorata Hospital, Italy), Andrea Nucita (University of Messina, Italy)

11. Remote Follow-Up of Implantable Cardioverter Defibrillators: Technology, Patient Management, Integration with Electronic Records, and ICD Product Surveillance
David L. Scher (Pinnacle Health System, USA), Franco Naccarella (Euro China Society for Health Research, Italy), Zhang Feng (First People Hospital of Jiao Tong University, People's Republic of China), Giovanni Rinaldi (Italian Society of Telemedicine, Italy)

12. Remote Electronic Monitoring in Chronic Pulmonary Diseases
S. Bella (Bambino Gesu' Paediatric Hospital, Research and Care Institute, Italy), F. Murgia (Bambino Gesu Paediatric Hospital, Research and Care Institute, Italy)

13. Telemedicine and Alzheimer Disease: ICT-Based Services for People with Alzheimer Disease and their Caregivers
Letteria Spadaro (IRCCS Centro Neurolesi Bonino-Pulejo, Italy), Francesca Timpano (IRCCS Centro Neurolesi Bonino-Pulejo, Italy), Silvia Marino (IRCCS Centro Neurolesi Bonino-Pulejo, Italy), Placido Bramanti (IRCCS Centro Neurolesi Bonino-Pulejo, Italy)

14. Health Services through Digital Terrestrial Television,
Aldo Franco Dragoni (Universita' Politecnica delle Marche, Italy)

15. Static Telecytological Applications for Proficiency Testing
Stavros Archondakis (Army Hospital, Greece)

16. Telemedicine in Emergency: A First Aid Hospital Network Experience
Vincenzo Gulla' (Aditech S.R.L, Italy), Corrado Cancellotti (Hospital High Chiascio of Gubbio, Italy)

17. Telemedicine R&D Influencing Incoming Strategies and Organization Models
Francesco Gabbrielli (Umberto I General Hospital of Rome, Department of Surgery P. Stefanini, Rome, Italy)

18. Sensorized Garments Developed for Remote Postural and Motor Rehabilitation
Giovanni Saggio (University of Rome Tor Vergata, Italy), Valentina Sabato (University of Rome Tor Vergata, Italy), Roberto Mugavero (University of Rome Tor Vergata, Italy)

19. Virtual Carer: A First Prototype
Aldo Franco Dragoni (Universita' Politecnica delle Marche, Italy)

20. Agent-Based Wellness Indicator
Chitsutha Soomlek (University of Regina, Canada), Luigi Benedicenti (University of Regina, Canada)

21. Life Style Evaluation by Accelerometer
Laura Stefani (University of Florence, Italy), Gabriele Mascherini (University of Florence, Italy), Irene Scacciati (University of Florence, Italy), Giorgio Galanti (University of Florence, Italy)

22. Implementation of Telecytology in Georgia
Ekaterine Kldiashvili (Georgian Telemedicine Union, Georgia)

Topics Covered

• Clinical technologies
• Health information systems
• Human factors and telehealth
• Medical technologies
• Remote electronic monitoring
• Telemedicine
• Virtual healthcare