The topic of telemedicine is becoming increasingly more common in the medical community.  For certain, telemedicine can be a cost effective way of communicating with and monitoring patients, but it is not without its risks.  For one thing, physicians need to be mindful of the potential for increased malpractice exposure which could come from not seeing a patient in person.  For example, a telephone or video visit may fail to disclose tell-tale signs of a medical problem that would otherwise be evident from an in-person visit.  For this reason, physicians intending to engage in telemedicine are well advised to consult with their malpractice carrier to be sure they have adequate coverage. Care should also be take to ensure that the technology used is effective and reliable.   Finally, before engaging in telemedicine, physicians should carefully research applicable federal and state laws on the subject.  State telemedicine laws can vary significantly from state to state.  Some states require telemedicine technology to meet specific requirements and many states require physicians to be licensed in the state where the patient lives.  In addition, the American Medical Association recently published recommendations regarding telemedicine, including that physicians be licensed in the state where the patient resides (See AMA: Doctors must be licensed in patient’s state to practice telemedicine on Washingtonpost.com).