Telehealth: A new generation of healthcare service

Who doesn't love the convenience of doing things from the comfort of their own home? With such advanced technology we can virtually do everything from home….except getting medical attention. We can buy clothes, food, groceries, essentially anything with the click of a button it’ll be delivered to your house in no time ,exactly two days with prime, that’s after the small fee of $99 of course, but why not healthcare services? With telehealth we are now able to interact with our healthcare provider without leaving the house. It just makes sense that when you’re feeling your worst you want to stay in bed and receive medical care, prescriptions, and access to health records via webcam, Skype, text, email, etc.

The use of electronic information and telecommunication technologies to support long distance clinical health care, patient and professional health-related education, public health and health administration. Technologies include videoconferencing, the internet, store and forward imaging, streaming media, and wireless communication. (HRSA, 2012)

Benefits of Telehealth 

Convenience of E-visits 

Just imagine, it so happened that you forgot to get a flu shot this year, it just started with a small cough and runny nose… it must be nothing, so you thought! Next thing you know 100 F fever, sore throat, headache, body ache, chills, fatigue, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea!

You can barely gather your strength to crawl out of bed to grab a sip of water (water WATERRR.. somebody anybody..) let alone get up, get dressed, and maybe make it to the restroom to brush your teeth, locate your keys, get in the car, drive to the doctors office and sit in a waiting room full of germ infested patients for multiple hours…sound familiar?

Flashbacks? We've all been there, doesn't that just should horrific??  With telehealth it becomes increasing convenient to make a visit to the doctor, refill prescriptions, and determine if a follow up visit is required. Patients will no longer have to take time off work or their busy schedules to visit the doctor which makes telehealth cost, time, and energy efficient.  

Home Health Monitoring 

Patients with disabilities or chronic diseases such as heart disease, diabetes, HIV/AIDS often times make frequent trips to see their health care providers. Patients with these chronic diseases can benefit from telehealth.  Telehealth plays a part in home health monitoring, as seen in the video, patients are taught how to monitor their own vital signs including blood pressure, heart rate, weight, pulse ox, blood glucose, etc. These devices are connected to the internet and can be monitored by health care providers and may even serve valuable in emergency situations. This enables few office visits and easier access to medical care and advice. (Mayo Clinic, 2015)

Doctors talk to doctors

Doctors from across the world are able to communicate and provide better care. Doctors are able to share information on the patient such as their diagnosis, treatment plan, x-rays, and other results and consult one another on the best possible approach. A whole team of healthcare professionals at your fingertips! Rural areas are among one of the many areas that can benefit from telehealth. These areas often lack health care facilities and specialists. Doctors are able to communicate with specialists in any geographic location via technology and develop a diagnosis together. (ATA, 2015)

Battle Field 

An awesome way to use telehealth is on the battlefield, for soldiers that fight to protect our nation. Telehealth excellent source to help in a trauma situation. A trauma physician can virtually be on the battlefield to support injured soldiers in their time of need. Telehealth is also designed for veterans and their families in efforts to support soldiers with psychological health and traumatic brain injury. (T2, 2015) 

Disadvantages of Telehealth 

A few disadvantages I see are with those who technologically challenged, electronic glitches, and the physical act of communication and assessment. In certain populations there may be difficult navigating the technology as well as unexpected electronic glitches that may arise. As for an assessment, there may be things that go unnoticed or an assessment is not complete mainly because you cannot feel or touch the patient.

References

ATA. What is Telemedicine? (n.d.). Retrieved April 3, 2015, from http://www.americantelemed.org/about-telemedicine/what-is-telemedicine#.VR4JffnF-Sp

HRSA. Telehealth. (n.d.). Retrieved April 3, 2015, from http://www.hrsa.gov/ruralhealth/about/telehealth/

Mayo Clinic. Consumer health. (n.d.). Retrieved April 3, 2015, from http://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-living/consumer-health/in-depth/telehealth/art-20044878?pg=1

T2health. (n.d.). Retrieved April 3, 2015, from http://t2health.dcoe.mil/

UM TeleHealth. (n.d.). Retrieved April 3, 2015, from http://telehealth.med.miami.edu/featured/teletrauma