Assignment Task:
The new AMA ethical guidance notes that while new technologies and new models of care will continue to emerge, physicians' fundamental ethical responsibilities do not change. According to the new policy, any physician engaging in telemedicine must: Disclose any financial or other interests in particular telemedicine applications or services Protect patient privacy and confidentiality The policy outlines guidelines for physicians who either respond to individual health queries electronically or provide clinical services through telemedicine. Broadly, some of these guidelines include: Informing patients about the limitations of the relationship and services provided Encouraging telemedicine patients who have primary care physicians to inform them about their online health consultation and ensure the information from the encounters can be accessed for future episodes of care Recognizing the limitations of technology and taking appropriate steps to overcome them, such as having another health care professional at the patient's location conduct an exam or obtaining vital information through remote technologies Ensuring patients have a basic understanding of how telemedicine technologies are used in their care, the limitations of the technologies and ways the information will be used after the patient encounter Thoughts? Need Professional Help?