Telemedicine means the method of sending or electronically exchanging medical data such as examination findings, photographs, X-rays, CT images, etc. over great distances in order to facilitate diagnostic or therapeutic communication between health professionals who are in separate locations. Thanks to modern telecommunication technologies it is possible to transmit these data in excellent quality to other experts around the world in order to engage in an interactive exchange.

Telemedicine was originally developed for areas where doctor and patient and doctor and specialist were separated by large distances. For example, on expeditions, during space travel or in very sparsely populated regions. In countries with good healthcare provision, such as Austria, telemedicine is used for the purpose of improving quality, for instance by obtaining a second opinion. Furthermore, telemedicine can also contribute towards improving training and continuing education.