“The delivery of health care services, where distance is a critical factor, by all health care professionals using information and communication technologies for the exchange of valid information for diagnosis, treatment and prevention of disease and injuries, research and evaluation, and for the continuing education of health care providers, all in the interests of advancing the health of individuals and their communities.”
The many definitions highlight that telemedicine is an open and constantly evolving science, as it incorporates new advancements in technology and responds and adapts to the changing health needs and contexts of societies.
Some distinguish telemedicine from Telehealth with the former restricted to service delivery by physicians only, and the latter signifying services provided by health professionals in general, including nurses, pharmacists, and others. However, for the purpose of this report, telemedicine and Telehealth are synonymous and used interchangeably.
Historically, telemedicine can be traced back to the mid to late to earliest days of the telephone when electrocardiograph data were transmitted over telephone wires. Telemedicine, in its modern form, started in the 1960s in large part driven by the military and space technology sectors, as well as a few individuals using readily available commercial equipment. Examples of early technological milestones in telemedicine include the use of television to facilitate consultations between specialists at a psychiatric institute and general practitioners at a state mental hospital, and the provision of expert medical advice from a major teaching hospital to an airport medic.
Recent advancements in and increasing availability and utilization of, Telehealth by the general population have been the biggest drivers of telemedicine over the past decade, rapidly creating new possibilities for health care service and delivery. This has been true for developing countries and underserved areas of industrialized nations. The replacement of analog forms of communication with digital methods, combined with a rapid drop in the cost of Telehealth, has sparked wide interest in the application of telemedicine among healthcare providers, and have enabled health care organizations to envision and implement new and more efficient ways of providing care.
The introduction and popularization of the Internet has further accelerated the pace of Telehealth technology advancements, thereby expanding the scope of telemedicine to encompass Web-based applications (e.g., e-mail, teleconsultations, and conferences via the Internet) and multimedia approaches (e.g., digital imagery and video). These advancements have led to the creation of a rich tapestry of telemedicine applications that the world is coming to use.
When using secure and encrypted platforms, users will find it very similar to using Face Time, business Video Conferencing so common today. DO Not be fooled by this similarity. Yes, companies like Zoom do offer a HIPAA Compliant Telehealth product but it not to be confused with lower cost standard business meeting audio-video conferencing system so popular today.
A legitimate Telehealth technology company will offer much more security that may not be apparent at first to the casual user. Check out the security and functionality of Drexly Telehealth solutions
Because this encryption entails a direct link between user and sender, ensure you ask this question during evaluation. For more information on setting up a HIPAA Compliant Telehealth Program, see our article “HIPAA Compliance Tips.”
Involves the exchange of prerecorded data between two or more individuals at different times.
In both synchronous and asynchronous telemedicine, relevant information may is transmitted in a variety of media, such as text, audio, video, or still images. HOWEVER, ALL SHARING OF PATIENT PHI NEEDS TO BE DONE THRU A SECURE ENCRYPTED SYSTEM THAT IS ENCRYPTED AND HIPAA
RPM/RCM is considered a subset of Telehealth that facilitates patient monitoring as well as the timely transfer of patient-generated data from patient to care team and back to the patient. To capture patient data, RPM can employ a host of wired or wireless peripheral measurement devices such as:
RPM/RCM technology can usually then do the following with the patient’s data:
In response to these alerts, clinicians/others can log into the system, review data, follow up with patients, or take other appropriate actions. Some systems have the capacity to connect patients with additional resources such as patient health records (PHRs), or electronic medical records (EMRs), targeted educational materials, interactive self-care tools, medication.
All the above is a bit confusing, but the key is to use the technology to get familiar with it. Just remember that things like the considerable costs to start and implement telehealth technology are a thing of the past, and almost all of them are cloud-based and relatively easy to get going.
Last essential requirement, and this is not optional, is legitimate Telehealth companies will ensure that a HIPAA Business Associate Agreement (BAA) is put in place with your practice and their company. For your office to sign, which protects you from the provider in case of a data breach. A BAA, at its core, is the commitment of the parent organization, provides all this security to take the risk for a violation. DO NOT sign up with a company if they do not have this is standard. See our article “Importance of HIPAA Compliant Telehealth”
Telehealth technological advancements have caused all aspects of life to evolve. But many ask how does Telehealth work and how can it benefit me? This is a common question for not just patients but doctors and other healthcare providers alike.
Providers and patients recognize the value of virtual care. But, how to do Telehealth can be a bit daunting to anyone at first.
Taskforce on Quality of Telemedicine Healthcare being started to ensure virtual care is also quality care A task force was ted to measure the quality