What is asynchronous (store-and-forward) telemedicine?

Asynchronous telemedicine involves capturing clinical information (images, videos, structured data) at one time and forwarding it to a specialist for review later — without requiring simultaneous presence of both parties. Common applications include teledermatology (photo-based skin lesion assessment), teleradiology, and retinal screening. It is particularly useful for specialist access in remote areas and for conditions where real-time interaction is not essential.