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Then vs. Now: The History of Telemedicine

Telemedicine got its start over radio and phone lines in the early 1900s.

Marisa Taylor KarasSanjai Sinha, MD
Written by Marisa Taylor Karas | Reviewed by Sanjai Sinha, MD
Updated on July 2, 2025
Reviewed by Sanjai Sinha, MD | July 3, 2025

Telemedicine is the use of technology to conduct remote healthcare visits. The use of telemedicine is common now — partially because of the lockdowns in 2020 for COVID-19. 

You may be surprised to learn that telemedicine is not a new invention. Doctors have been experimenting with technology to assist with healthcare since the invention of the radio and telephone.

References

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Marisa Taylor Karas is a freelance journalist based in Brooklyn who has covered health, gender, and technology for 15 years. She previously worked at The Wall Street Journal, The Guardian, and Al Jazeera America, among other publications, and also served as managing editor of the Mellon Foundation in New York City.
Sanjai Sinha, MD
Reviewed by:
Sanjai Sinha, MD
Sanjai Sinha, MD, is a board-certified physician with over 20 years of experience. He specializes in internal medicine.

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