Telehealth
Telehealth is the use of electronic information and telecommunication systems to deliver health care related services such as direct clinical care to patients, health education to patients and professionals and the administration of health information where patients and care coordinators are separated by distance. At its core Telehealth is about patient care.
Modes of Delivering Telehealth
1 - Real-time (Synchronous) Telehealth
Relies on telecommunication links that allow interactions via telephones, mobile devices, video conferencing, email and other technology driven means of communication.
2 - Store & Forward or (Asynchronous) Telehealth
Captures (stored) digital images, video, audio and clinical data on a computer and transmits the information (forwarded) through secure means to an alternative location where they are reviewed by a specialist.
3 - Remote Monitoring
Which is a combination of store and forward as well as real-time applications. It is used in care management to improve patient outcomes.
Benefits of Telehealth
Patients
- Improves access to clinical and specialist services
- Reduces patient travel time
- Saves costs associated with travel and accommodations
- Decreases time between diagnosis and provision of care
- Improves management of chronic diseases
- Decreases incidence of hospital re-admission
- Consistent, reliable supervision and care support
- Early warning system to care providers thus mobilizing care rapidly
Care Providers
- Increases access to clients
- Reduces care provider’s travel time
- Saves costs associated with travel and accommodations
- Expands the use of inter-profession teams to enhance client care
- Increase chances for professional development and specialist services
- Saves hospital beds for those who really need them
- Mentoring of direct care allied health professionals
- Educational tool for remote locations in contact with larder regional hubs
Patient Outcomes
- Reduction in emergency room admissions
- Reduction in emergency room visits
- Reduction in elective admissions
- Reduction in bed days
- Reduction in mortality rates in patients with chronic conditions
