
Telemedicine allows patients to consult with health care professionals through the use of technology, particularly video conferencing. In a recent study, telemedicine was shown to be effective in allowing individuals the opportunity to receive care without the inconvenience of leaving home. In some cases, patients are physically unable to leave home or may live in rural areas a great distance away from the nearest medical facility. Patients in the study also found that teleconferencing from the comfort of their homes tended to mitigate troubling news. Moreover, telemedicine has been shown to cut costs, both for patients and the health care industry itself.