TelehealthNUR353 - Information Management in Health Care

Group Project Week 6Jennifer ThornburgElizabeth Raymond

Melissa ZiogasKelsey Schneider

Allison Abisch

OutlineIntroductionCurrent and future

applicationsExampleRisk managementBenefitsConclusion

How would the world change if…Clinical care was available anytime and anywhereClinicians could obtain consultations with medical

centers of excellence anytime and anywhereHome bound patients could be monitored remotely

anytime and anywhereMedical education programs were available anytime

and anywhereLanguage was not a barrier to medical treatmentSpecialist could be available to treat patients and

injuries no matter where in the world they were locatedHospital and clinical facilities could reduce overhead

and establish more efficient operations

This is the Goal of Telemedicine

Telehealth / Telemedicine “What is it?”Broadly defined, telehealth / telemedicine is

the transfer of electronic medical data (i.e. high resolution images, sounds, live video, and patient records) from one location to another.

The need for TelemedicineAchieving access to Healthcare for patients across all

demographics and geographiesOvercoming limited financial resourcesLarge travel distances between affiliated healthcare

organizationsManaging Healthcare provider shortages Clinician ShortagesDelayed TreatmentAn aging populationLanguage barriersMeeting Professional development requirements Keeping abreast with advancements in medicine

Telemedicine benefitsReduces barriers to accessIncreases efficiency for providersReduces overall healthcare costsReduces delays in careRetains resources locallyIncreases patient satisfactionImproves quality of careConsultant and primary provider

communicationEducation to providersImproves health outcomesVirtual accessibility

A few facts

The need for TelemedicineAchieving access to Healthcare for patients across all

demographics and geographiesOvercoming limited financial resourcesLarge travel distances between affiliated healthcare

organizationsManaging Healthcare provider shortages Clinician ShortagesDelayed TreatmentAn aging populationLanguage barriersMeeting Professional development requirements Keeping abreast with advancements in medicine

Diverse ApplicationsMonitor patient activitiesEvaluate tests and labsCollaboration between the

patient's healthcare teamStorage of images and

records for easy retrievalResearchSending prescriptions

electronicallyDictating data through voice

recognitionEducation for both patient

and healthcare teamSupport for caregivers

Application CategoriesCardiology: ECG strips can be read from afar,

pacemakers can be resetDermatology: Specialist can see patient

without patient needing to wait for an appointment

Pathology: Second opinions on biopsies available through slide transmissions

Radiology: Receive images hospitals, no hospital needed at rural hospitals

Speech-language pathology: Efficient use of specialty pathologists

Application Categories (ctd)Ambulatory Care settings: will help to

monitor compliance of medicationsMobile Unit Post-Disaster Care: EMT's and

nurses at site of incident can voice needs of victim

Home Care: health care team can evaluate client without client leaving home

School Clinics: school nurses can collaborate with other professionals about problems observed

Counseling: Can stay at home or be in an outpatient setting for services

Application Categories (ctd)Emergency Care: Facilities can communicate

efficiently to prepare for transfer of a patientPharmacy: Prescriptions can be sent

electronically and accessed at a central location

Extended Emergency Services: allows doctors to monitor ambulance patients, look over EMT's, initiate treatments early

Application Categories (ctd)Geriatrics: monitor taking medications for

those who have memory loss but can stay home

Hospice: increase access to services in remote areas

Military: physicians can evaluate injured soldiers in the field through medic equipment

Virtual Intensive Care Units: Allow experts to monitor distant patients in rural areas, especially when transporting the patient is not possible at that time

Application Categories (ctd)Diabetes Management: can report blood sugars via touch-

tone phonesFetal Monitoring: high-risk antepartum patients can be

monitored from home for more comfort and less costHypertension Management: receive reminders and teData Mining: Research can be easier conducted with large

databases for education, evidence-based practice, cost/benefits

Education: Healthcare professionals can attend seminars without traveling

Psychiatry: Specialists can evaluate patients in outlying facilities

Social Work: Can apply services for home visits through telehealthachings on course of treatment

Technology IssuesResolution: Clarity of the

image isn't the most sharpFrame rate: lower frame

rates make interpretation of diagnostic images difficult and videoconferencing delays

Standards: Always changing and standards of telehealth need constant revision

Storage: Ensuring patient data is stored correctly for easy access

Physical Components of Telehealth

Telehealth Barriers Regulatory Barriers: Some state

laws may forbid telehealth past state boarders

Lack of Reimbursement: Some third-party payers may not reimburse the client if they are not seen in-person

Cost: All of the services and equipment are expensive

Fear of healthcare changes: many fear job loss as clients will be seen in their home rather than at a facility

Lack of acceptance by professionals: Liability concerns related to not seeing the patient in-person

Lack of acceptance by clients: technology illiterate, strain on the provider-client relationship, concerns with confidentiality

July 2012

One form of Telehealth example

Referenceshttp://

www.apa.org/monitor/2012/07-08/telehealth.aspx (map)