Telemedicine PDF

Telemedicine  Telemedicine Definition Telehealth, also referred to as telemedicine or e-medicine, is the remote delivery of healthcare services over the telecommunications infrastructure.  Telehealth allows healthcare providers to evaluate, diagnose, inform and treat p...

Telemedicine  Telemedicine Definition Telehealth, also referred to as telemedicine or e-medicine, is the remote delivery of healthcare services over the telecommunications infrastructure.  Telehealth allows healthcare providers to evaluate, diagnose, inform and treat patients without an in-person visit. Patients can communicate with physicians from their homes using their own personal technology  Types of telehealth Telehealth can be classified into four main categories that in some cases overlap. 1-Interactive. Physicians and patients communicate in real time from patient's home or a designated medical kiosk. They can interact using phones or videoconferencing software that complies with the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act regulations.  2-Remote patient monitoring. Telemonitoring lets patients monitor symptoms or their condition from their home. They use mobile health devices, such as wearable technology, and applications that collect data about temperature, blood sugar levels, blood pressure and other vital signs.  3-Store and forward. Also known as asynchronous telehealth, this approach lets one healthcare provider share patient information, such as lab results, with another healthcare provider.  4-Mobile. Mobile telehealth describes healthcare activities supported by mobile devices. This could be remote clinical services, such as consultations, and patient-doctor communication through mobile patient portals. It can also include public health activities, such as disseminating warnings about a dangerous outbreak.  Advantages of telehealth 1-Convenience. Patients don't have to take time away from work for an appointment, and they save travel time and associated expenses, such as paying for gas and childcare. This can be useful for minor medical needs that don't require urgent care and for routine check-ins for patients with chronic conditions. 2-Increased access. Patients in rural areas can obtain specialty health services, such a mental health treatment and post-surgery follow up, that they otherwise might not get without traveling a long distance for an in-person visit. Similarly, patients who live in federally designated underserved areas have increased access to primary, dental and mental healthcare. Patients who are unable to travel to an appointment because of their health condition can also receive care they might not otherwise get.  3-Reduced exposure. Telehealth allows sick people to get healthcare without the risk of infecting others or becoming infected themselves.  Disadvantages of telehealth 1-Security risks. Telehealth systems are susceptible to hackers and breaches. Healthcare organizations are one of the biggest targets for online criminals and cybersecurity attacks. 2-Regulatory complications. Many states don't allow online prescribing without an established relationship between the physician and patient. In those states, a physical examination or evaluation is required before a physician can write a prescription for a patient, but there are inconsistencies in state laws as to what constitutes a physical examination.  3-Technical challenges. Telehealth providers must be trained on how to use telehealth equipment. In addition, there are the costs of the equipment, such as integrated telehealth carts and encounter management software, to consider. The startup cost of implementing telehealth may be especially prohibitive to rural facilities. 4-Licensing issues. Certain states require providers who practice telehealth across state lines have a valid license in the state where the patient is located. This means providers must obtain and uphold multiple state licenses. 5-Data issues. Depending on the technology used, low bandwidth may affect the accuracy of patient data transmitted, leaving open the potential for misdiagnosis.