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According to a recent article on MedCityNews.com, Telehealth (or Telemedicine, eHealth or a variety of other names, if you prefer) has finally arrived.
For the uninitiated, telehealth is “… the delivery of health-related services and information via telecommunications technologies.” And if ever there was a technological breakthrough whose time has come, it would be this one.
Think of it. The Internet, developments in electronic monitoring of your vital signs, and equipment being developed by ZyXEL and others could significantly extend your life, and the lives of those for whom you care.
Telehealth adds a fantastic new approach to healthcare, where the patient is monitored from the comfort of his or her home, rather than in a hospital. We’ve already seen that this can significantly reduce visits to the doctor’s office and even trips to Emergency Room and hospital stays. This is a great boon for people living in remote locations or lacking transportation. It also totally eliminates physical distances between patients and uniquely qualified specialists who may be located on the other side of the world.
Wikipedia http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Telehealth
“I am of the view that eCare could be a huge step forward in improving the care for older people and lowering costs to Medicare as a government program,” Senator Ron Wyden (D-Ore)
Changes in medical coverage also make telehealth a wonderful gain for multiple parties. With rising costs, hospitals are eager to release patients when adequate care can be provided at home. Telehealth can significantly assist in this area, allowing patients to be monitored in the comfort of their own homes.
Here’s how telehealth breaks down. On one end – let’s say at your home – you’ve got one or more of the increasingly available health monitoring devices. These can work in one of three scenarios:
Health & Wellness
Think of it as staying well. Or being scared by some news or event into making sure you’re OK.
Vital sign monitoring can include:
- Excess weight – there are 1 billion overweight adults worldwide
- Elevated blood pressure – called the silent killer for good reason
- Glucose - diabetes
- Cholesterol – can lead to heart attacks
- Activity level
Benefits:
- Monitor and motivate
- Achieve individuals’ goals
- Access personal fitness
- Fformation anywhere
- Enhance trainers’ services
- Insurance gets you out of hospitals
Monitors include:
- Pedometer
- Weight scale
- Blood pressure cuff
Information would be sent to:
- Fitness coaches
- Healthcare professionals
- Electronic Health Record
Disease Management
With 860 million patients worldwide with chronic diseases, Telehealth can and should be an integral part of their everyday lives. Again, a great many patients do not live near practitioners specializing in their ailment, but Telehealth eliminates distances. Telehealth in this case can mean post-operative or pre-operative monitoring, or chronic disease management.
Vital sign monitoring can include:
- Diabetes
- Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease
- Congestive Heart Failure
- Hypertension
- Pedometer
- Blood-pressure
Benefits:
- Connect to care team
- Empower individuals
- Encourage early detection
- Reduce costs
Monitors could include:
- Thermometer
- Blood/O2 level
- Blood pressure cuff
- Exercise equipment
- Weight scale
- Pedometer
Information would be sent to:
- Family Care Givers
- Disease Management Service
- Personal Health Record
- Healthcare Provider
IIndependent Wellness
There are presently 600 million seniors around the world. What if a great many of the most frequently-used reasons for medical could be reduced? What if the problems ensuring the elderly receive proper care without having to worry about how they’re going to get to and from their doctors could be solved? How valuable is the freedom seniors can enjoy via telehealth? The significance of providing these services and providing peace of mind for seniors – particularly when consider the retirement over the next decade of 80 million Baby Boomers in the US alone – can’t be overestimated.
Vital sign monitoring can include:
- Pressure on bed (noting presence)
- Bathroom sensor (noting presence)
- Gas / water sensor (noting use)
- Emergency sensor
IInformation would be sent to:
- Care Givers
- Monitoring Services for seniors
- Disease Management Service, Healthcare Provider
- Diet and Wellness Services
Benefits:
- Involve family members
- Allow remote analysis & care
- Provide integrated view
- Encourage early detection
- Reduce costs
We’ve seen a real surge in enthusiasm for telehealth in recent months. More and more medical professionals are recognizing its appeal and its place in today’s healthcare system. As innovations applying the latest breakthroughs in technology find their fit in Telehealth, it will gain further traction. The convergence of medicine and technology is now finally gaining the recognition and support it deserves, meaning even lower costs, fewer barriers to entry, and healthier living for people around the world. Private payers are now providing coverage for telehealth. Finally, the recent American Recovery and Reinvestment Act provides for grants and contracting opportunities in telehealth and health IT by more than 20 government agencies.
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