In 1874, a surgeon in South Australia sent wound care instructions to a patient 2,000 kilometers away through telegraph. A few years later, in 1879, The Lancet medical journal published a letter suggesting the use of telephone to reduce unnecessary patient visits. These early instances of telemedicine, or “healing at a distance,” sparked the imagination of science fiction writers who envisioned futuristic ways of treating patients remotely.
Since then, real-world technology has advanced alongside speculative science fiction. Today, certain forms of telemedicine have become commonplace, while other futuristic tools are on the horizon.
In E.M. Forster’s 1909 short story “The Machine Stops,” he described a telemedicine apparatus that would descend from the ceiling when telegraphed to provide care for patients in their homes. This story also introduced the concept of instant messaging and a form of internet, both of which are crucial to real-life telemedicine.
In 1924, Radio News magazine featured a cover story depicting the future “Radio Doctor,” where a physician could examine a patient through a screen. Although the story itself was fictional, the imagery resonated with the idea of a telemedicine doctor.
Hugo Gernsback, a futurist and pioneer in radio and electrical engineering, described a device called “The Teledactyl” in a 1925 cover story for Science and Invention. This device utilized radio transmitters and television screens to enable doctors to interact with patients remotely. The unique aspect was the use of a remotely controlled mechanical hand to physically touch the patient.
The radio played a significant role in early telemedicine, with physicians using it in the 1920s to evaluate, diagnose, treat, and provide medical advice to seafarers and passengers. Even today, the radio is used for medical consultations on ships at sea.
In 1955, Gernsback revisited the concept of distance medicine with “The Teledoctor.” This fictional device combined the telephone and closed-circuit television with mechanical arms controlled by the physician to deliver remote patient care. Gernsback believed that teledoctoring would enable doctors to perform almost anything remotely.
In 1959, psychiatrists in Nebraska conducted psychiatric consultations between two locations using two-way closed-circuit televisions, marking one of the earliest examples of modern telemedicine. However, the high cost of developing and maintaining telemedicine networks limited their widespread use.
NASA began integrating telemedicine into their spaceflight programs in the 1960s, culminating in the Space Technology Applied to Rural Papago Advanced Healthcare (STARPAHC) program in 1971. This program connected Tohono O’odham people with nurses and physicians through a two-way television and radio connection, demonstrating the potential of telemedicine in remote areas.
The term “telemedicine” was officially coined in 1970 by US doctor Thomas Bird, who established an audiovisual circuit between Massachusetts General Hospital and Logan Airport to provide medical consultations to airport employees. From the 1970s onwards, telemedicine gained more traction, especially with the advent of the internet in 1983, which provided new ways to connect patients and physicians.
The development of satellites allowed for greater distances to be covered without the need for closed-circuit televisions. The cost of telemedicine networks also decreased in the 1980s, making it more accessible.
In Peter Watts’ 1999 science fiction novel “Starfish,” he introduced the “Medical Mantis,” a device that enables physicians to remotely examine and perform procedures on patients deep beneath the ocean’s surface. In the early 2000s, NASA’s Extreme Environment Mission Operations tested teleoperated surgical robots in undersea environments.
Despite these advancements, telemedicine remained underutilized until the global COVID pandemic. The pandemic made telemedicine an integral part of modern healthcare, primarily through video consultations. While this aligns with the vision of science fiction writers like Gernsback, the use of robotic hands has not yet materialized.
The future of telemedicine may resemble science fiction as advancements in human spaceflight push the boundaries of remote healthcare. As humans venture further into space, monitoring astronauts’ health from Earth will require technological breakthroughs to keep up with their journeys.
In conclusion, telemedicine has evolved alongside information and communication technology, with science fiction inspiring and influencing its development. The COVID pandemic has accelerated its adoption, and future advancements in space exploration may further shape the future of telemedicine.