Telemedicine generally refers to the provision of clinical
services from a distance. The Institute of Medicine of the
National Academy of Science defines telemedicine as “the use of
electronic information and communication technologies to provide
and support health care when distance separates the
participants.”
Telemedicine uses video conferencing technologies and electronic
communications to allow patients at one site to have a visit with
a provider at a different site. Sometimes the distance is a few
miles – other times telemedicine connects patients and providers
that are thousands of miles apart.
The videoconferencing technologies used by telemedicine allows
patients to see clinicians that are not at the same location.
Videoconferencing allows the patient and doctor to see and talk
to each other like a live television broadcast. The tools used by
clinicians to observe and collect vital information, such as
otoscopes and stethoscopes, have been adapted so the clinician
and patient can see and hear as if they were in the same room.
Telehealth refers to a broader scope of services that includes
telemedicine, but also includes other services that can be
provided remotely using communication technologies. The federal
Office for the Advancement of Telehealth, describes telehealth as
including telemedicine and a variety of other services.
Telemedicine is emerging as a critical component of the
healthcare crisis solution. Telemedicine holds the promise to
significantly impact some of the most challenging problems of our
current healthcare system: access to care, cost effective
delivery, and distribution of limited providers.
The applications for telehealth can be categorized into three
types: clinical services, educational services and administrative
support.
Clinical Services applications
Primary care
Medical specialty consultations
Behavorial health
Dental services
Chronic disease and home monitoring
Telemedicine supported ICU’s
Emergency department services
The most commonly provided
outpatient specialty services include psychiatry,
dermatology, neurology, orthopedics, endocrinology, and
rheumatology. Hospital telehealth includes stroke programs
in emergency departments, ICU telemedicine services and
telemedicine supported physician rounds. Home monitoring
for chronic disease is being used for conjestive heart failure,
chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, diabetes and
othters. Dental services, school based programs, services
in skilled nursing and assisted living programs are
also being implemented around the country.
