Table 1.

Telemedicine groups and description.

	Group	Example	Description
Real-time online assessment	Virtual video visits of patients (Teleconsultation)	Virtual outpatient's clinic	Patient at home directly connected via online video link with the cardiologist in the hospital
	Second opinion offered by cardiologists to other health professionals (Teleexpertise)	Ambulance crew for patients with chest pain and dynamic ECG changes	Cardiologist on-call confirming the presumption of STEMI and indication to emergency catheterization
		GPs in medical unit/ surgery requesting medical advice for acute patients	In-hospital on-call cardiologists providing skilled support for undiagnosed and inconclusive cases
		General medicine physicians in small hospitals seeking medical expertise	Performing clinical examination via video link and echocardiographic assessment to inpatients
		Online video conference MDT meetings with clinical and interventional cardiologists, cardiothoracic surgeons, radiologists.	Experts of different specialities assessing difficult cases and taking management decisions
Remote monitoring	Wearable devices and implantable biosensors (Telemonitoring)	Heart failure monitoring	Weight, HR, LAP
		Palpitations /syncope monitoring	ECG recording/ events record/ ILR
		Systemic hypertension	BP curve

ECG, electrocardiogram; MDT, multidisciplinary team; HR, heart rate; LAP, left atrial pressure; BP, blood pressure; GP, general practitioner; ILR, implantable loop recorder.