Telehealth

Telehealth is the distribution of health-related services and information via electronic information and telecommunication technologies. It allows long-distance patient and clinician contact, care, advice, reminders, education, intervention, monitoring, and remote admissions.

Overview

Telehealth could include two clinicians discussing a case over video conference; a robotic surgery occurring through remote access; physical therapy done via digital monitoring instruments, live feed and application combinations; tests being forwarded between facilities for interpretation by a higher specialist; home monitoring through continuous sending of patient health data; client to practitioner online conference; or even videophone interpretation during a consult.

History

The development of telehealth started with the inception of telecommunications infrastructure, which included the telegraph, telephone, and radio. Casualties and injuries were reported using the telegraph during the Civil War, while the telephone was used to dictate consultations and prescriptions. This led to the inception of telehealth.

Types of Telehealth

Telehealth is sometimes discussed interchangeably with Telemedicine, but the latter is used more narrowly to describe remote clinical services, such as diagnosis and monitoring. When rural settings, lack of transport, a lack of mobility, decreased funding, or a lack of staff restrict access to care, telehealth may bridge the gap.

Telehomecare

In telehomecare, an individual living at home may use an array of sensors to collect data on vital signs and symptoms, which is then transmitted to healthcare professionals.

Telenursing

Telenursing refers to the use of telecommunications and information technology for providing nursing services in health care whenever a large physical distance exists between patient and nurse.

Telepharmacy

Telepharmacy is a form of pharmaceutical care in which pharmacists provide patient care that may include medication therapy management and patient counseling, remotely via telecommunications technology.

Benefits and Challenges

Telehealth has the potential to improve health care access for rural and underserved communities, improve health outcomes, reduce health care costs, and improve patient engagement. However, it also faces challenges related to reimbursement, licensure, and privacy and security concerns.

See Also

• Telemedicine
• Telenursing
• Telepharmacy
• Digital Health
• E-Health
• M-Health

References

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