POCT in telemedicine

Telemedicine makes it possible to overcome spatial separation between healthcare providers and patients by offering remote clinical diagnostics, consultations or medical emergency care via data and communication technologies. Particularly in rural areas, telemedicine has the potential to become an important component of medical care. In laboratory medicine, the majority of samples are analyzed at specialized central laboratories, often far away from the patient. The results are then transmitted electronically to the attending physician. Support in interpreting the findings can be provided by the laboratory physician either personally or on the telephone as a teleconsultation. In that regard, telemedicine has long figured prominently in laboratory medicine, without being named as such. In the POCT sector, however, telemedicine has fostered the development of new models for diagnostics and monitoring of diseases.