Telehealth1
What is telehealth?
Telehealth is the use of information and communication technology (ICT) to deliver health services, expertise and information over distance. It includes Internet or web-based e-health and video-based applications, and can be delivered real-time (live) or through store-and-forward (record now, view later) mode. Telehealth can provide benefits to individual patients, family members or health care providers, and to community organi ations, healthcare facilities, and governments! Improve the way patients and their families access information and learn Improve the way healthcare providers deliver care, access information, and learn "ower healthcare costs, reduce travel, minimi e time off wor#, and decrease patient waiting time Improve emergency triage
Telehealth modes
Store-and-forward telehealth
In store-and-forward telehealth, digital images, video, audio, observations of daily living ($%"s), and clinical data are captured and &stored& on the client computer or mobile device' then at a convenient time they are transmitted securely (&forwarded&) to a clinic at another location where they are studied by relevant specialists. The opinion of the specialist is then transmitted bac#. (ased on the re)uirements of the participating healthcare entities, this roundtrip could ta#e between * minute to +, hours. In the simplest form of telehealth application, basic vital signs li#e blood pressure, weight, pulse oximeter, and blood sugar values are monitored and trended for long term chronic care. In many specialties, such as dermatology, radiology and pathology, an immediate response is not critical, ma#ing these specialties conducive to store-and-forward technologies. -utomated screening and diagnostic tele-audiology is fast becoming another specialty conducive to store-andforward audiology.
Real-time telehealth
In real-time telehealth, a telecommunications lin# allows instantaneous interaction. .ideoconferencing e)uipment is one of the most common forms of real-time (or &synchronous&) telemedicine. /eripheral devices can also be attached to computers or the video-conferencing e)uipment which can aid in an interactive examination. 0ith the availability of better and cheaper communication channels, direct two-way audio and video streaming between centers through computers is leading to lower costs. * 1etrieved from http![Link]
4xamples of real-time clinical telehealth include! Tele-audiology Telecardiology Teledentistry Telemental 5ealth6the use of videoconferencing technology to connect a psychiatrist with a mental health client Telehomecare Teleneurology Telenursing Teleradiology Telerehabilitation
In the 78 9to#e-on-Trent /rimary Care Trust together with mediaburst and the 0est :idlands 9trategic 5ealth -uthority have sponsored the development of a low cost 9imple Telehealth system &;lorence& which primarily operates using text messaging (9:9) and a web application.
Remote patient monitoring In remote monitoring, the patient has a central system that feeds information from sensors and monitoring e)uipment, e.g. blood pressure monitors and blood glucose meters, to an external monitoring center. This could be done in either real time or the data could be stored and then forwarded.
4xamples of remote monitoring include! 5ome-based nocturnal dialysis Cardiac and multi-parameter monitoring of remote IC7s %isease management including C$/%, Chronic 5eart ;ailure, %iabetes, Coagulation, -rthritis,%epression, $besity
Where is telehealth today?
5igh tech diagnostic e)uipment, together with multimedia, scanning, and videoconferencing capabilities already allow researchers and health care providers to readily share data, images, expertise, and diagnostic procedures. 0ithin Canada, 5ealth Canada is pursuing a program to develop a nation wide 5ealth Infostructure through the $ffice of 5ealth and the Information 5ighway ($5I5). This will be a national health information highway that uses the latest information and communications technologies (ICTs) to enhance our healthcare system. ICTs are already being used worldwide to develop innovative applications such as electronic health records, telehealth and Internet-
based health information. 5ealth Canada and other government agencies are satisfied that these applications can significantly improve the accessibility and )uality of health services for all Canadians while increasing the health system<s efficiency. Canada has also provided funding initiatives to encourage and coordinate telehealth development within the country. -n example is the current C5I// initiative. Information on innovative pro=ects and programs funded by C5I//, and information on the telehealth strategies of each province and territory can be found at the lin#s to the $5I5 website.
Where can Telehealth go tomorrow?
Anywhere we want it to go!
1ecent advances in information technology and telecommunications have made telehealth both affordable and feasible. -s a result, telehealth has been recogni ed as a tool that holds the promise to provide better health, more informed choices, and e)uitable access to timely, efficient, and )uality healthcare and health information. In addition, driving forces exist for implementing telehealth solutions, including health reform, evidence-based decision ma#ing, migration to self-managed care, and the principles of the Canada 5ealth -ct. 5owever, there is concern that the pace of development and capability of technology will force telehealth solutions upon us. 0ith the continued fiscal and human resource constraints on health care, we have to ma#e smart choices and invest wisely in the future use of technology. Telehealth, heavily reliant on technology, is no exception. 1esearch is critical in order to continue to determine the impacts and benefits and limitations - of telehealth. The Telehealth /rogram has been developed to carry out that research, and to provide the evidence-based information necessary to inform policy and investment...
... to allow us to make the smart choices.