With today’s fast moving technology, access to extensive networked communications is readily available. Telemedicine will pave the way in solving contemporary health care issues such as accessibility, cost effectiveness and more importantly, quality. Through the use of telecommunications, health care can reach more people. According to the American Telemedicine Association, "telemedicine is the use of medical information exchange from one site to another via electronic communications to improve a patient's clinical health status." This includes "the use of telecommunications and information technology to provide access to health assessment, diagnosis, interventions, consultation, supervision and information across distance (Kvedar, et al. …show more content…
From the 1980s to 1990s, the advances in telecommunication and information technologies resurrected telemedicine projects. Today there is at least one telemedicine program in every state (Archbold, et al. 2003, p. 138-139). Everyone have access to electronic technologies today- smart phones, internet, smart televisions, electronic mail and fax machines. People have welcomed the ease and convenience of using these extensive networked communications and information technologies in all aspects of their lives. One important aspect, health care, could benefit from the use of such technology. Health care has its own challenges. Access to health care is limited for some people, the rising cost of healthcare, and limited resources causing low quality of patient care are some of the very important contemporary health care issues we have today. Health Care Administrators should explore the use of telemedicine technologies to help combat these challenges. [← What is the impact of combatting the challenges of healthcare? Briefly explaining the impact lets readers see the importance of health care administrators exploring the use of telemedicine …show more content…
Reasons are limited available technologies, readiness of patients and providers in using technology, and reimbursement or payment issues. These reasons, in my opinion, are no longer valid. As a developed nation, the US is using faster broadband internet access technologies. In 2015, 32% of consumers have at least one health applications in their mobile device. (Sanborn, 2015) “Technology and connectivity will continue its steady infiltration of the healthcare landscape, branding and trust take priority over convenience, and the advancement and integration of connected health technologies will hinge on cybersecurity. Those are the major findings of the Top 10 Health Industry Issues 2016 report by Pricewaterhouse Cooper's Health Research Institute.” (Sanborn, 2015) Contrary to popular beliefs, patients and providers are ready for telemedicine. It is an acceptable way to deliver health care. Majority of patients prefer access over direct physical contact with healthcare providers. Those majority also said they are comfortable using telecommunication technologies to communicate with their providers in lieu of office visit. In a national survey, nearly sixty percent of doctors are willing to conduct video visits with their patients. Because patients and doctors are willing to adopt telemedicine, telemedicine tools will provide the much needed solution to the issue of
...ward understanding the cost benefit of telemedicine applications. Hospital Topics: Research and Perspectives on Healthcare
The author’s sources support the conclusion that innovations in health technology will help improve patient care. Using not only Dr. Martin but others who are being trained in the field such as Sean Hayes, a Baylor MB/Healthcare/MSIS candidate, who in the article spoke of how a physician can be patched in by video and do a distance consult, which he saw as cost sharing in rural areas at may not be able to afford
[20]Charles BL. (2000) Telemedicine can lower costs and improve access. Healthcare Financial Management. 54(4): 66.
Telehealth is the monitoring via remote exchange of physiological data between a patient at home and health care professionals at hospitals or clinics to assist with diagnosis and treatment. As our society ages and health care costs increase, government and private insurance payers are seeking technological interventions. Technological solutions may provide high quality healthcare services at a distance, utilize professional resources more effectively, and enable elderly and ill patients to remain in their own homes. Patients may experience decreased hospitalization and urgent care settings, and out of home care may not be required as the patient is monitored at home. However, no study has been able to prove telehealth benefits conclusively. This change in health care delivery presents new ethical concerns, and new relationship boundaries between health care professionals, patients, and family members. This paper will discuss telehealth benefits in specific patient populations, costs benefits of using telehealth, and concerns of using telehealth.
The purpose of telemedicine is to remove distance as a barrier to health care. While telehealth is an accepted resource to bridge the gap between local and global health care, integrating telehealth into existing health infrastructures presents a challenge for both governments and policy makers (HRSA, 2011). Today there are policy barriers that prevent the expansion of telehealth, including reimbursement issues raised by Medicare and private payers, state licensure, and liability and privacy concerns.
Among the main aims of health care reform and improvement is expanding healthcare access to different populations, which have been subjects to underserving for a long period. These include the poor, the previously uncovered, rural societies, and the minorities, to mention just a few. Great challenges definitely lie ahead, since several individuals start seeking access to the primary healthcare clinicians (Arnaert & Delesie, 2001). Telenursing assures to be a crucial tool to meet such needs. It refers to making use of the telehealth technology in conducting nursing practice and delivering nursing care. Because of the quick telemedicine technology adoption within the healthcare institutions, telenursing emerges as a fresh tool that provokes discussions
Telehealth definition according to our textbook by Hebda, T., & Czar, P., 2013 is the use of telecommunications technologies and electronic information to exchange healthcare information and to provide and support services such as long-distance clinical healthcare to clients. It provides health care to patients that may not be able to have access to care. Telehealth requires a patient to have electronic tools to facilitate this type of service. Electronic tools can be a telephone, computer, or a video camera. The patient is able to call or enable video conferencing to have access to their health care provider. Telehealth allows the patient to have access to preventative care and education on their disease process and how to manage it at home.
Telemedicine is a new comer to the field of medicine and it is the treatment of patients by means of telecommunications technology. Telemedicine is carried out in a variety of ways whether it is by smart phone, wireless tools or other forms of telecommunications. Examples of telemedicine include: 1) transmission of medical images 2) care services at the home of the patient 3) Diagnosis at distance 4) education and training of patients. The diversity of practices in what is known as telemedicine raises many questions and one of those questions, which is extremely important, relate to the safety of the practice and the risks involved.
Telehealth allows a lower-level healthcare practitioner to communicate with a physician or specialist when necessary. Remote rural areas use a Physician Assistant or a Nurse Practitioner on location in remote areas. When procedures call for a physician, an internet or satellite link provides a teleconference with a physician who can prescribe appropriate treatment (Gangon, Duplantie, Fortin & Landry 2006). This could be implemented in lower income urban areas, allowing free clinics to lower costs, and require fewer physicians. Programs that increase the level of healthcare available to school children could be increased.
The health care environment is evolving and one in particular aspect of that is telehealth. According to the U.S Department of Health & Human Services telehealth can be defined as “the use of electronic information and telecommunication technologies to support and promote long-distance clinical health care, patient and professional health-related education, public health and health administration. Technologies include video conferencing, the internet, store-and-forward imaging, streaming media, and terrestrial and wireless communications” (Telehealth Programs, 2017). A more specific term that is found to be used interchangeably with telehealth is remote patient monitoring (RPM). Whereas telehealth is the broader term, RPM is the use of specific technology that allows for facilitation from a physician to a patient interaction from the comfort of their home (Care Innovations, 2017).
Patients are not subjected to the “one and done” model of direct to consumer telemedicine companies, but instead are exposed to a medical home. We believe it is vital for the healthcare system to be the central source for health care, particularly quality and affordable care. Our health system partners find that the sticky experience facilitated by integrating our platform into the care continuum prompts patients to return to the health system for care of more serious health concerns. Even more so, the clinical capacity of urgent care centers and emergency rooms has been improved by more patients opting for virtual visits. Yet,though data shows our model is effective and saves costs, restrictions on store-and-forward technologies, originating sites and geographic locations prevent Medicare beneficiaries from access care through our
From state and federal levels, the healthcare industry has come a very long way, experiencing changes along the way. The development of advanced technology that has enhanced the quality of healthcare delivery systems will help all patients to be able to benefit. Doctors are able to access patient records at a faster rate and respond to their patients in a much more timely fashion. E-mail, electronic transfer of records and telemedicine will give all patients and physicians the tools needed to be more efficient, deliver quality care and deliver quality telecommunication at a faster pace than before.
Mandl, Kenneth, MD., Kohane, Isaac, MD., Brandt, Allan, MD. (1998). “Electronic Patient – Physician Communication: Problems and Promise”. Annals of Internal Medicine, 129, 495 – 500.
Telehealth nurses use the nursing process to provide care for individual patients or defined patient populations over a telecommunication device” (Stokowski, 2008).
Information and Communication Technology (ICT) has been shown to be increasingly important in the education or training and professional practice of healthcare. This paper discusses the impacts of using ICT in Healthcare and its administration. Health Information technology has availed better access to information, improved communication amongst physicians, clinicians, pharmacists and other healthcare workers facilitating continuing professional development for healthcare professionals, patients and the community as a whole. This paper takes a look at the roles, benefits of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) in healthcare services and goes on to outline the ICT proceeds/equipment used in the health sector such as the