TELEPREVENTIVE MEDICINE

There have been dramatic improvements in health during the past 50 yea rs, and public health measures have made a major contribution. Much of public health consists of information transfer. The application of te lecommunications technology to public health and preventive medicine w ould enhance our ability to transmit information and improve global he alth. The idea of telemedicine has received considerable attention but has not thus far included preventive medicine. We have outlined a glo bal electronic health network with seven main components: connectivity , telemonitoring of disease, ''distance education for public health wo rkers, electronic connection of nongovernment organizations, a combine d degree in public health and communications, an electronic scientific research sewer, and a home page on the World Wide Web. A commitment t o the integration of telecommunications and public health holds great promise for improving the health status of the world's population.