TELEMEDICINE: INTEGRATION OF INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGIES INTO MODERN MEDICINE

Аннотация

In the context of the global digital transformation of medicine, new forms of medical care are being widely implemented. This concerns not only medical equipment and access to medical services but also the entire healthcare system and the relationship between doctor and patient. Modern medicine is unimaginable without digital solutions. The digitization of existing information and its availability to all participants in the “doctor– patient” system form the basis for the further development of clinical practice, revolutionary scientific research, improvement in patient-centered care quality, and effective functioning of the system for people. This requires a shared culture of values and ethical standards corresponding to digital solutions. The article analyzes the reasons for the increased relevance of remote communication forms between doctor and patient during the COVID-19 pandemic, using telemedicine as an example. The main types of telemedicine in the current conditions, driven not only by the pandemic but also by the digital transformation of medicine, are examined. Special attention is given to the possibilities of telemedicine in terms ofitsadvantages, as well as thelegal and ethical aspects from theperspective ofrisks. Keywords: telemedicine, doctor–patient relationship, digital transformation of medicine, advantages, risks, ethics, legislation Telecommunication technologies have existed in human life for a long time and are not a product of today or yesterday. However,the strict restrictions introduced during the COVID- 19 pandemic, which has been called the "Black Death of the 21st century," forced society to radically rethink forms of interaction, minimizing personal contact. As a result, remote forms of communication began to develop rapidly. The COVID-19 pandemic made people look at both domestic and international forms of communication in a new way, significantly influencing the organization and pace of development in all spheres of human activity and prompting the search for new ways to build interpersonal relationships. In such conditions, healthcare became one of the most in-demand fields, as people continued to suffer from various illnesses and required constant medical care. At the same time, the need for new forms of safe interaction, compliant with epidemiological requirements, increased significantly. Thus, telemedicine occupied a niche as an alternative and necessary form of communicationbetween people. Relevance: Telemedicine consultations are currently an important and relevant direction in modern medicine. These consultations can be conducted in real time (synchronously) or with a delay (asynchronously). Online consultations require high-quality technical equipment and provide effective results. Remote medical consultations enable doctors to exchange 98,7:ROTCAFTCAPMI .SECNEICSLACIDEM,5202,yaM,5emuloV gro.srehsilbupcimedaca.www information, assess the patient’s condition, discuss medical situations, and reach joint clinical decisions. This approach is especially important in acute and complex medical conditions,absence oftraditional symptoms, orwhen apatient has severe complications. Delayed consultations also prove effective. They are conducted by highly qualified specialists from leading medical centers. Asynchronous telecommunication approaches are often used for analyzing results of visual diagnostics (e.g., X-rays, ECG, spirometry) and for dynamicassessment ofthe patient’s condition. Within the framework of the "National Healthcare Project," developed at the initiative of the President, the implementation of the telemedicine subsystem aims to achieve the following strategicgoals: Reducemortality rates among theworking-age population to 350cases per100,000people; Reducemortality from cardiovasculardiseases to450cases per 100,000people; Reducemortality from oncological diseases to185cases per 100,000people; Reduceinfant mortalityto 4.5cases per 1,000livebirths. Additionally, the project plans to reduce staffing shortages in primary healthcare facilities, ensure equal access to medical services for all population groups including residents of remoteareas, and optimizethehealthcare system. It is important to note that telecommunications in medicine are not a novelty. The first remote medical consultation for children was conducted in 1924. In subsequent years, telemedicine consultations were used to monitor the health of sailors and astronauts. Since the 1990s, doctors have actively used the Internet for remote patient monitoring, as well as forstoring and transmittingmedical information. Telemonitoring is especially effective for managing patients with heart disease, diabetes, andthoseparticipating inclinical trials. It is important to emphasize that the use of telemedicine consultations should be a free choice of both doctor and patient; this right should not restrict the patient’s ability to receive traditional medical care but rather complement it. Access to medical services s