The study highlighted the efforts of Hospital Clinic of Barcelona to treat 200 HIV-infected patients remotely through its "Hospital VIHrtual" telemedicine program. The program used virtual consultations through videoconferencing and delivery of medications to a patient's home. The telemedicine program does not replace the traditional face-to-face visits between doctor and patient but complements and enhances them, the hospital said. The study results were published in the peer-reviewed journal PLos One.

In the U.S., many states are implementing telemedicine as a way to save costs, improve the quality of time physicians spend with patients and cut down on commuting time.

For example, in upstate New York began offering their members and employers virtual physician visits, making New York the fourth state to provide these types of services. The service allows patients to talk with physicians in real time through a private online chat network or through a voice-over-IP phone call. It also offers video chat and instant messages.

Other medical facilities throughout the country .

Hospital Clinic of Barcelona's telemedicine program was coordinated by Dr. Felipe Garcia and Dr. Agathe Leon, from the Hospital Clinic Service of Infectious Diseases, directed by Dr. Josep M. Gatell.