Medicus in virtus : telemedicine, a network and a cyber nurse : notions on new developments in medical science and practice

Abstract

Telemedicine is widely defined as medicine performed at a distance by the means of telecommunication. It often proofs to fulfil both medical and technical acquirements, but often fails to reach large-scale use. The focus in evaluation of telemedicine projects generally concerns efficiency and economic issues. In this thesis I try to explore the links between telemedicine projects and medical science and practice. I ask, “What are the implied theories of medical science and practice engendered by telemedicine?” Social studies of medicine shows that the leading rationality in modern medicine is “evidence based”, I show how practices, tools and decision techniques are influential in logics and science of medicine. Further I describe two case studies: The plans for a regional teleradiology network in Northern Norway and technological mediated health workers represented in the concept called CyberNINA . I show how new concepts of organising and performing medical work are inscribed in the telemedicine projects and I discuss some of the implications it might cause. Different technology projects in different fields of medicine construct and re-construct health care work by interaction in socio-technical networks. By discussing the medical aspects of telemedicine I show that it is important to create boundary objects and rationalise new concepts of medicine within existing cultures.