What Patient and Their Families Should Know About Telehealth Francillia Lubrin Beverly Henry

Telehealth is the use of telecommunication and information technologies to support long distance health care. It includes the following:Medical intervention/Consultations

Care Management

Illness prevention

Health education

Telehealth

Processes and ProceduresTelehealth Visit is scheduled

Informed Consent is gained from client

A question and answer session will be held with client

All pertinent patient information is gathered

Process and ProceduresExaminations are done

Information gained during visit is stored as part of health record

Any queries arising from consultation are discussed

Schedule follow up visit as necessary

Process and Procedures ContinuesThe nurse or assistant will ensure that all

equipment are functional and the communication lines are prepared and opened

Privacy and confidentiality will be maintained at all

timesAn introductions will be done between all present

Initial information is given and discussed

Suitability and Safety Telehealth covers a variety of health care areas. These includes cardiology, mental health, oncology, paediatrics, diet and nutrition ,psychiatry and chronic diseases to name a few.

Telehealth has the following benefits and are therefore suitable for these reasons:

Brings care to there to patient lives, which is cost effective and less time consuming

Suitability of Telehealth continuesIt makes it possible to assess the patient in

their natural environment Allows for fewer hospitalisation visitsAllows patient more input and control in health

care managementAllows for better monitoring of diseased

conditionEmpowers the patient towards health care goals

Safety of TelehealthThe telehealth industry is regulated to ensure

the safety and security of its consumers. Government instituted policies and protocols

example Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA)

Wi-Fi protection servicesPatient identification protocolsData control and trackingTechnical support and maintenance of

equipment

Live video conferences: enables patient, doctors and specialist to consult in real time

Store and Forward Systems: Data such as x rays, ultra sounds and other clinical information are collected and later spent to specialist or consultant.

Technologies Involved

Technologies Involved continuesRemote patient monitoring: Home based

monitoring devices are used to monitor and transmit medical data.

E Visits/ Consults: Is the use of Emails and phone based consultations using secured Web links. An E visit can also be a virtual house call where video conferencing and store and forward systems are used .

Technologies Involved ContinueThese processes are facilitated using

Specialised work stations

Videos equipments

Telephones (landlines ) and accessories

Smart Phones

Electronic blood pressure monitors, blood glucose

monitors, cardiac monitors and stethoscopes

Reduced CostTransportation – No need to travel far.

Hospital – fewer and shorter stay at hospital.

Better management of the disease.

Telephone – By using the telephone in your

consultation, you will avoid unnecessary medical

cost

Security and PrivacyYour doctor knows that your personal information

is important to you.Your doctor can only share your information with

persons involved in your care.Doctor uses your information, when he refers you

to specialist for telehealth advice.

Security and Privacy cont’dYou will be alone most of the time in a room,

without persons moving in and out.

The healthcare provider must be aware of who is

in attendance.

Your personal information is any information that

can identify you.

Ethical and Legal considerationThe health provider needs to obtain permission

from you, before treating you.You have the right too see your information, and

ask the doctor to make correction, if information is incorrect or incomplete.

The doctor is held accountable for your information.

Ethical and Legal Consideration Cont’d

All your information will be private and confidential.

You have the right to be part of the decision making

concerning your care.

You are the one to give permission to the doctor, to

share your information with another person who is

not involve in your care.

SummaryTelehealth encompasses a broader definition of

remote healthcare that goes beyond the clinical encounter to connect the entire network of care in supporting the overall wellness of the patient. Not only utilizing videoconferencing, transmission of still images, and remote monitoring of vital signs, but specialist referral consultation, preventative care, continuing physician and nursing medical education via distance learning, and integrated administrative services (e.g. EMR). (Doctors Telehealth Network, 2006).

ReferencesRetrieved March 19, from

http://www.grampiansml.com.au/cb_pages/telehealth_patient_information.php

Anthem Blue Cross, Conducting a Live Video consultation. Retrieved March 20 from Fairchild, S. L., Elfrink,V., & Deickman, A. Patient safety, telenursing, and telehealth. (ch. 48) Retrieved March 19, from http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK2687

Doctors Health Network, (2oo6). Retrieved March 25, from http://www.doctel.net/index-7.html

Doly,C.A.,(Nov 2008). Delivering Care Anytime, Anywhere:Telehealth Altering the Medical Ecosystem.Retieved March 21, from 

www.chcf.org/resources/download.aspx?id={4D3EA675-F49B-4883-B5CA-0520DED53A52}

References continuesFairchild, S. L., Elfrink,V., & Deickman, A. Patient

safety, telenursing, and telehealth. (ch. 48) Retrieved March 19, from http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK2687

Health resource and Services administration Rural health.Telehealth. Retrieved March 20 from www.hrsa.gov/telehealth/

Retrieved March 20, from http://www.bing.com/images/search?q=pictures+of+telehealth&id=29F6EFD961ED660DA403967F8CB144B7428733F4&FORM=IQFRBA#x0y21321