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The work to make telemedicine work: A social and articulative view

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  • Nicolini, Davide

Abstract

This article contends that the take up of telemedicine results inevitably in the reconfiguration of the existing work practices and socio-material relationships. This new way of working triggers a variety of shifts in coordination mechanisms, work processes and power relationships in the health care sector. The paper, which is based on the findings of a research project conducted in Northern Italy, addresses three critical issues of telemedicine: the conflict between the scripts embodied in telemedicine technologies and the daily work practices of heath care professionals; the tendency of telemedicine to produce a delegation of medical tasks to non-medical personnel (and to artifacts); and the tendency of telemedicine to modify the existing geography within the health care environment. The paper contends that telemedicine presupposes and entails some significant changes in work processes which affect both the material conditions of the expertise which is supposed to be distributed, and the relationships between health care professionals and their practices.

Suggested Citation

  • Nicolini, Davide, 2006. "The work to make telemedicine work: A social and articulative view," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 62(11), pages 2754-2767, June.
  • Handle: RePEc:eee:socmed:v:62:y:2006:i:11:p:2754-2767
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. May, Carl & Ellis, Nicola T., 2001. "When protocols fail: technical evaluation, biomedical knowledge, and the social production of 'facts' about a telemedicine clinic," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 53(8), pages 989-1002, October.
    2. May, Carl & Gask, Linda & Atkinson, Theresa & Ellis, Nicola & Mair, Frances & Esmail, Aneez, 2001. "Resisting and promoting new technologies in clinical practice: the case of telepsychiatry," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 52(12), pages 1889-1901, June.
    3. Lehoux, P. & Sicotte, C. & Denis, J. -L. & Berg, M. & Lacroix, A., 2002. "The theory of use behind telemedicine: : how compatible with physicians' clinical routines?," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 54(6), pages 889-904, March.
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    Cited by:

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    2. Virginia MacNeill & Caroline Sanders & Ray Fitzpatrick & Jane Hendy & James Barlow & Martin Knapp & Anne Rogers & Martin Bardsley & Stanton P Newman, 2014. "Experiences of front-line health professionals in the delivery of telehealth: a qualitative study," LSE Research Online Documents on Economics 57614, London School of Economics and Political Science, LSE Library.
    3. Carboni, Chiara & Wehrens, Rik & van der Veen, Romke & de Bont, Antoinette, 2022. "Conceptualizing the digitalization of healthcare work: A metaphor-based Critical Interpretive Synthesis," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 292(C).
    4. Lynch, Jennifer & Hughes, Gemma & Papoutsi, Chrysanthi & Wherton, Joseph & A'Court, Christine, 2022. "“It's no good but at least I've always got it round my neck”: A postphenomenological analysis of reassurance in assistive technology use by older people," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 292(C).
    5. Lindberg, Kajsa & Walter, Lars & Raviola, Elena, 2017. "Performing boundary work: The emergence of a new practice in a hybrid operating room," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 182(C), pages 81-88.
    6. Petrakaki, Dimitra & Barber, Nick & Waring, Justin, 2012. "The possibilities of technology in shaping healthcare professionals: (Re/De-)Professionalisation of pharmacists in England," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 75(2), pages 429-437.
    7. May, Carl, 2013. "Agency and implementation: Understanding the embedding of healthcare innovations in practice," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 78(C), pages 26-33.
    8. Damien Talbot & Sandra Charreire-Petit & Alexis Pokrovsky, 2020. "La proximité comme perception de la distance. Le cas de la télémédecine," Revue française de gestion, Lavoisier, vol. 0(4), pages 51-74.
    9. Jannie Kristine Bang Christensen, 2018. "The Emergence and Unfolding of Telemonitoring Practices in Different Healthcare Organizations," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 15(1), pages 1-16, January.
    10. Cannavacciuolo, Lorella & Capaldo, Guido & Ponsiglione, Cristina, 2023. "Digital innovation and organizational changes in the healthcare sector: Multiple case studies of telemedicine project implementation," Technovation, Elsevier, vol. 120(C).

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