Abstract
It will be two full years since the American Telemedicine Association (ATA) has met in person for its annual meeting. Like everything else, blame it on COVID-19! This year's meeting is in Boston, Massachusetts. When I think of Boston, several things come to mind. The first is the song by Dave Loggins—Please Come to Boston, which was a hit song in 1974. 1 The second is the American Revolution, which began with the siege of Boston in 1775. Third is the very early use of the word telemedicine and early applications by legendary individuals in our “revolutionizing” field. I also think of our contemporaries, Dr. Jay Sanders, and those telemedicine giants we have lost, Drs. Kenneth T. Bird, J. Michael Crichton, and Ronald S. Weinstein among others who really championed the concept of telemedicine in the late 1960s.
J. Michael Crichton spoke of his experience in his New York Times best-selling book entitled Five Patients: The Hospital Explained. 2 In this book, Crichton presents a clinical case in which he participated during a 2-week clinical rotation at the medical station at the Logan International Airport/Mass General Hospital telemedicine service as medical student. This service was initiated in 1967 by Dr. Kenneth T. Bird. Dr. Bird pioneered the use of two-way interactive closed-circuit television to examine and treat patients traveling through Boston's Logan Airport.
This is where Dr. Sanders came in; his contributions having been instrumental in our community's growth. Each of these Bostonians impacted all of what we now do. Through them and many others from this time period, they pushed for change, often against all odds. There are other Boston highlights but they are too numerous to list here. You just have to come to Boston in the springtime and see for yourselves!
The introduction of telemedicine and the more inclusive term “telehealth” have caused quite a stir these past several decades. As a result of the pandemic, which may or may not be receding, this new paradigm has revolutionized our thinking, our approach, and perhaps the very foundation of the delivery of care itself. Revolutions cause upheaval. We know that, without a doubt, there were those in 1775 Boston who preferred the British Crown over separatist talk. The same can be said about deploying telemedicine and telehealth. Some individuals and perhaps organizations are just not willing to change. We know from our experiences that telemedicine and telehealth work. It improves efficiency and has immense utility. Where better to learn about this than the pages of this journal—well the ATA Annual Meeting in Boston of course!
New Paradigms of Telemedicine
One area of potential growth in telemedicine and telehealth is in veterinary medicine. A recent literature review by Teller and Moberly highlighted the utility of the veterinarian–client–patient relationship, especially in areas with limited access. 3 During the pandemic, veterinary telemedicine has thrived. 4 Whether it is our domesticated pets, farm animals, or zoo animals, their care was also impacted by the pandemic. The application here is of great importance and growth. The journal is looking for contributions in this emerging application.
News About the ATA
As mentioned earlier, the ATA2020 Annual Conference and Expo is in Boston, Massachusetts. This gathering of subject matter experts provides an outstanding opportunity to expand knowledge, collaborations, and see innovative technologies. The abstracts for the meeting can be viewed at
Telemedicine and e-Health is an official research journal of the ATA. It was recently recognized by the ATA as an official research journal of the association. Each year the publisher and the editorial board recognize the best original research article. The best article as determined by the editorial board is Averted Transfers in Rural Emergency Departments Using Telemedicine: Rates and Costs Across Six Networks. This article was coauthored by Marcia M. Ward, Knute D. Carter, Fred Ulrich, Kimberly A.S. Merchant, Nabil Natafgi, Xi Zhu, Paula Weigel, Sarah Heppner, and Nicholas M. Mohr, appeared in the Journal in the May 2021 issue, volume 27, number 5. 5 Dr. Ward and her team are at the University of Iowa's Department of Health Management and Policy, College of Public Health.
Each year the ATA College of Fellows inducts new fellows. This year, the Class of 2022 (#14) includes Dr. John “Fred” Thomas from the University of Colorado School of Medicine and Ms. Michelle Hager, managing partner with Blue-Cirrus. Their contributions continue to help the ATA and our telemedicine community move forward.
What Is in This Issue
This issue contains a wide variety of submissions from Australia, Bolivia, Ireland, Italy, Mexico, Saudi Arabia, South Korea, and the United States. Nearly 50% of the submissions in this issue are focused on COVID-19. As a result of the pandemic, the journal receives articles from countries that have not submitted or published in the past. You will find this issue a great resource.
Although the COVID-19 restrictions may be relaxing, remain vigilant and be safe!