Annual Review of Cybertherapy and Telemedicine 2012

Book excerpt: Healthcare delivery systems have evolved greatly in recent years thanks to technological advances. Shifts in care, diagnosis and treatment have decreased the importance of traditional methods of care delivery and new ways have been developed to monitor and treat heart disease, inflammation and infection, cancer, diabetes and other chronic conditions. Monitoring techniques, in combination with imaging and telemetrics, can provide real-time, continuous evaluation of many conditions, and technology has not only helped to extend our lifespan but has contributed to an improved quality of life for all citizens. This book examines and summarizes current and emerging trends in cybertherapy. It is divided into five main sections: critical reviews; evaluation studies; original research; clinical observations; and work in progress. The book underlines the progress cybertherapy has made in treating a variety of disorders; it also explores the challenges still to be faced, including the development of easy-to-use and more affordable hardware and software, as well as objective measurement tools. It also highlights the need to address potential side effects, and the importance of implementing more controlled studies to evaluate the strength of cybertherapy in comparison to traditional therapies, and will be of interest to all those involved in the delivery of healthcare today.