Telemedicine Overview

Podcast

Play an AI-generated podcast conversation about this lesson

Questions and Answers

What does the term 'telemedicine' signify?

Remote provision of clinical care (correct)

Treatment of patients by clinicians only

Delivery of medicine at a distance

Transfer of electronic medical data

Telehealth only includes telemedicine and nothing more.

False

Telemedicine primarily involves the use of information and communication technologies to transfer __________ information for the delivery of clinical services.

medical

What was the primary motivation for the deployment of telemedicine?

Providing access to healthcare in rural areas and addressing medical emergencies Signup and view all the answers

What are the three main technological drivers of telemedicine and telecare?

Computing and information technology, network and telecommunications infrastructure, technology-led society Signup and view all the answers

One of the benefits of telemedicine is improved communication between caregivers.

True Signup and view all the answers

What are the stages involved in a telemedicine session?

explain the purpose and process to the patient; establish the remote link; introduce the participants; summarize the patient's condition and purpose of the session; review the patient's history; perform the examination or interview; review other evidence such as test results; discuss diagnosis; discuss prognosis and management of the condition; address any other concerns or queries; close the remote link and the session. Signup and view all the answers

What is the main limitation of telemedicine related to patient perceptions?

privacy and confidentiality concerns Signup and view all the answers

What are some concerns related to the introduction of new technologies and methods of working?

All of the above Signup and view all the answers

Telemedicine has proved valuable in providing ______ services such as therapy sessions, counseling, and psychiatric evaluations, thus reducing _stigma.

mental health Signup and view all the answers

Match the following scopes of telemedicine with their descriptions:

teleconsultation = Supports clinical decision making and accounts for about a third of telemedicine usage. tele-education = Used for medical education, training, and knowledge-sharing among healthcare professionals. telemonitoring = Involves gathering routine or repeated data on a patient's condition using telecommunications. telesurgery = Includes telementoring and telepresence surgery for remote surgical procedures. Signup and view all the answers

What are the barriers to the progress of telemedicine?

Technical barriers, economic barriers, organizational and behavioral barriers Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Historical Perspectives

Efforts to communicate beyond hearing range have been part of human civilization, including smoke signals, drums, and pigeon carriers.
Inequality in healthcare availability between higher and lower classes has existed throughout history, with the highest quality care restricted to kings and nobles.
The use of communication technology to convey health-related information at a distance dates back to Roman times, with examples including "leper bells" and quarantine flags on ships.
In 1876, Alexander Graham Bell used the telephone to request medical assistance after spilling acid on his hand.
In 1879, the first description of telephone use for clinical diagnosis was published in a medical journal.
The concept of telemedicine evolved in 1905, with a Dutch physiologist using the telephone to transmit and monitor cardiac sounds and rhythms.

Development of Telemedicine

Phases of telemedicine development:
- Telegraphy and telephony (1840s-1920s)
- Radio (1920s onwards)
- Television/space technologies (1950s onwards)
- Digital technologies (1990s onwards)

Definitions of Telemedicine

Telemedicine is the provision of clinical care remotely, using clinical processes such as teleconsultation, telediagnosis, etc.
The prefix "tel" comes from the Greek word for "far" or "at a distance", signifying medicine delivered at a distance.
Alternative definitions of telemedicine include:
- The transfer of electronic medical data from one location to another
- The use of telecommunications to provide medical information and services

Types of Telemedicine

By device/communication mode:
- Real-time or synchronous (e.g. video conferencing)
- Store and forward (S&F) or asynchronous (e.g. recording and transferring information)
- Telemonitoring or remote monitoring (e.g. medical devices transmitting data to clinicians)
By partners and direction of information flow:
- Between patient and provider (e.g. phone calls, emails, messaging services)
- Between providers of different levels (e.g. primary care to specialist)
- Between providers of the same level (e.g. tele-education, online CMEs)
- Home healthcare (e.g. ICT-based monitoring with or without medical personnel)
By specialty:
- Telepsychiatry
- Teleradiology
- Teledermatology
- Teleoncology
- Telecardiology

Rationale for Telemedicine

Providing access to healthcare in rural areas
Medical emergencies
Cost savings (e.g. travel costs, medical equipment)
Key motivations for telemedicine deployments:
- Providing access to healthcare in rural areas
- Medical emergencies
- Cost reduction

Drivers of Telemedicine

Technological drivers:
- Computing and information technology
- Network and telecommunications infrastructure
- Technology-led society
Non-technological drivers:
- Extension of access to healthcare services
- Healthcare provision for travelers
- Military applications
- Home telecare
- Cost reduction
- Market development
- Health policy and strategy

Scope and Types of Telemedicine

Teleconsultation:
- Consultations and diagnoses
- Emergency consultations
Tele-education:
- Medical/health education and training
Telemonitoring:
- Remote monitoring
- Follow-up care
Telesurgery
Teletherapy/mental health services:
- Telemedicine has proven particularly valuable in providing mental health services
- Allows individuals to access mental healthcare from the comfort and privacy of their own homes### Types of Tele-education
Clinical education via teleconsultation
Clinical education via the Internet
Academic study via the Internet
Public education via the Internet

Telemonitoring

Use of telecommunications link to gather patient data
Acquisition process can be manual or automated
Data can be submitted in real-time or store-and-forward mode
Connected devices allow for collection and analysis of patient data
Examples of data collected include vital signs, glucose levels, and medication adherence

Telesurgery

Two approaches: telementoring and telepresence surgery
Telementoring: assistance given to surgeons via video and audio connection
Telepresence surgery: guides robotic arms to carry out remote surgical procedures
Allows for complex micro surgeries through the use of robotic arms

Benefits of Telemedicine

Better access to healthcare
Access to better healthcare
Improved communication between caregivers
Easier and better continuing education
Better access to information
Better resource utilization
Reduced costs

Limitations of Telemedicine

Poor patient-caregiver relationships
Poor relationships between healthcare professionals
Impersonal technology
Organizational disruption
Additional training needs
Difficult protocol development
Uncertain quality of health information
Low rates of utilization

Patient Perceptions

Concerns over privacy and confidentiality
Fear of technology not displaying medical condition clearly
Fear of doctors blaming technology for mistakes
Concerns decrease after repeated experience of telemedicine

Caregivers and Procedures

Need for process guideline to allay patient concerns
Guideline includes stages such as explaining purpose, establishing remote link, and reviewing patient's condition

Organizational Disruption

Fear of increased workload
Fear of market-driven rather than user-driven approach
Fear of technological obsolescence
Lack of skills and need to acquire them
Lack of agreed standards

Barriers to Progress

Technical: telecommunications infrastructure and standards
Economic: cost effectiveness
Organizational and behavioral: national policy and strategy, ethical and legal aspects

Studying That Suits You

Use AI to generate personalized quizzes and flashcards to suit your learning preferences.

Description

This quiz covers the basics of telemedicine, including its concept, origins, drivers, scope, benefits, and limitations. It also explores historical perspectives on communication beyond the hearing range.