Information Assurance and Security Issues in Telemedicine — Future Directions

One of the challenges in healthcare is to provide equitable access to services, given that the provider and the patient are traditionally expected to be physically present in the same place [1], [2], [3]. Technological advancements have been made to overcome obstacles to equitable healthcare services and enable convenient access to quality healthcare for consumers throughout the world. The field of digital healthcare, which is known as telemedicine [2], [3], [4], [5], is rapidly making its way globally across the healthcare services domain. It allows the transfer of images and video through telecommunication technology, giving physicians the ability to evaluate, diagnose, and in certain cases, treat patients remotely [6]. Patients can visit providers over live video without travelling for immediate care and for follow up treatment. Not only does it give patients the ability to schedule appointments with local physicians via live video communication without having to leave home, but it also allows them to consult with distant healthcare professionals and avail their services remotely.