Telecom Providers See Opportunities In Telemedicine

Telecommunications providers that were once hesitant to enter the telemedicine market due to limited reimbursements for services rendered are shaking off their doubts and developing a more aggressive, confident approach to telemedicine, an IDC report concludes.

Published in May, the IDC Health Insights report entitled: "Business Strategy: Monetizing Telemedicine--Telecommunications Provider Opportunities," is the second in a series of four that examines the market for telemedicine and telehealth services. The report described 2010 as a "tipping point" in telecom providers' go-to-market strategy and notes that several companies took the plunge and announced new healthcare initiatives dedicated to providing telehealth services.