Telemedicine and telepathology at the Armed Forces Institute of Pathology: history and current mission.

The Armed Forces Institute of Pathology uses telepathology and telemedicine programs to support its mission of providing pathology consultation, education, and research. The telepathology service is based on a static imaging or "store-and-forward" approach using both proprietary equipment and open systems through the Internet. Initiated in 1993, the service provides rapid expert consultation to pathologists globally. Diagnoses are provided by pathologists in 22 specialized departments. Educational programs are delivered through the World Wide Web. Category I continuing medical education credits can be obtained through Internet-based courses. Research activities are focused on forensic applications and the creation of image databases.