| Telehealth is the use of telecommunication | | | | Limited high speed internet access in certain |
| systems to provide health or medical care. | | | | geographic regions provides some difficulties in the |
| Examples include videoconferencing, store and | | | | delivery of telehealth applications, specifically |
| forward technologies, and remote monitoring | | | | real-time interactive video. Because of the |
| devices. Over the last 5-10 years since the wide | | | | bandwidth demands of interactive video, patients |
| acceptance and availability of broadband | | | | living in rural areas tend to use telephone or email |
| technology, the use of telehealth applications has | | | | applications instead. Another disadvantage is the |
| substantially increased. The private sector is | | | | lack of insurance reimbursement. Although there |
| estimated to be worth over $1 billion by the end | | | | are a few reimbursement models through |
| of 2010. Additionally, over $4 billion has been | | | | Medicare, private insurance companies provide |
| appropriated from the American Recovery and | | | | very little support for telehealth technologies. |
| Reinvestment Act to support Health IT. The | | | | Additionally, the liabilities of intervention have yet |
| foundation of telehealth technologies is supported | | | | to be fully understood due to the novelty of this |
| by two main ideas, the reduction in travel time | | | | service delivery medium. One of the biggest |
| and its associated costs. | | | | setbacks for nationwide telehealth adoption is the |
| According to the American Telemedicine | | | | cost of the technology. Some large |
| Association, telehealth technologies give a clinician | | | | videoconferencing rooms can cost in the upwards |
| the ability to monitor and measure patient health | | | | of $200,000. However, as the technology |
| data and information over geographical, social, and | | | | components get cheaper and better, overall costs |
| cultural distances. Additionally, these video and | | | | will reduce over time. |
| non-video technologies are utilized to collect and | | | | Although the majority of telehealth applications |
| transmit patient health information. Telehealth | | | | are related to elderly individuals, other arenas are |
| technologies can track the vital signs of patients | | | | being tested and considered. Children with physical, |
| with diseases, such as congestive heart failure, | | | | mental, or developmental disabilities are being |
| diabetes, and other various chronic and acute | | | | treated and monitored by non-medical and medical |
| illnesses. Telehealth systems are supported in | | | | professionals in the comfort of their home. By |
| hospitals and homes across the country, | | | | using interactive video, the parents and children |
| particularly for their preventive medicine | | | | can have therapy sessions with their professional |
| applications. The faster information can be | | | | remotely. It is important to realize that this |
| gathered and transferred to the appropriate | | | | advanced interactive video is unlike standard web |
| professional, the better it is for the patient. | | | | chat hardware and software. Advanced |
| Studies have shown a reduction in emergency | | | | interactive video includes dynamic remote |
| room visits and rescue calls, resulting in improved | | | | controls, pan-tilt-zoom camera capabilities, public |
| health outcomes for patients receiving continuous | | | | and private audio modes, advanced video and |
| care via telehealth monitoring. These outcomes | | | | audio clarity controls, and secure data encryption. |
| include an increase in medication compliance, a | | | | Consequently, without these features, remote |
| decrease in patient isolation, and improved access | | | | therapeutic improvements will be more difficult to |
| to immediate care and services. | | | | obtain. |