Telehealth ExplainedBy Enda Edward
What is Telehealth? A Telehealth consultation is similar to a
regular videoconferencing whereby a meeting is run through a camera between a specialist in his/her clinic, and you in the comfort and privacy of your home .
The Telehealth Process1. Scheduling: provides you with a
confirmed appointment2. Consult Day: Patient is registered Medical records retrieved All necessary forms signed Videoconference connects Fifteen minute interval for triage by the
nurse
The Telehealth ProcessThen the consultation begins with
physician discussing your treatment planMedication and follow up test and
proceduresSchedule follow up exam as needed
The Telehealth Process
The Telehealth Process
Suitability and Safety You are responsible for your health care
at home Telehealth’ s unique system assist you by
using technologies to improve your health and safety
It also address the issue of providing quality health care in inaccessible areas because of cost or geographic location
Not all consultations are suitable for telehealth
Only when there are barriers to face to face contact
Suitability and Safety Telehealth can improve compliance and
adherence to treatment plan It provides greater access It increases productivity of nurses – no
more delays in health care especially in rural areas
Technologies to be Used There are many different technologies
used in telehealth including:Telephones videophones videoconferencing systems specialized telemedicine workstations personal computers store and forwarding systems
Technologies to be Used
Technologies to be Used
Security and Privacy Privacy and patient confidentiality should
be maintained and respected at all times Privacy requirements are the same as
face to face consultation the health care provider should make use
of secure infrastructure and encryption
Legal Considerations There are three general categories of legal
issues associated with telehealth:1. Traditional medico – legal issues2. Conflicts with State Laws3. Issues unique to telehealth
Legal Considerations Licensure: Is the health care provider licensed?
Ensures that the facility meets quality standards
Accreditation:Ensures that medical staff are competent
in their practice areas
Legal Considerations Malpractice Liability: The facility owes you a duty to prevent
harm negligently Reimbursement: for the most part telehealth services are
not reimbursed by government insurance agencies
However granted in special cases, if medical necessity can be demonstrated
ICT Requirement and Cost The cost of using telehealth services would
depend on: Location Services provided The individual service provider
However it has been shown that the overall cost is much less than traditional in hospital consults
ICT Requirement and Cost Technical requirement for the routine
telehealth exchange are:Simple messaging/ monitoring devices VideotelemonitorsVideophones All telehealth users need to be educated
about the systems and trained how to use them properly to avoid fustration
ClosingYour medical telehealth team is committed
to providing you with the best care as close to home as possible
The choice is yours, telehealth has the capacity to improve your health while also lowering expense