Telemedicine

telemedicine

1. Telemedicine

2. Introduction The term telemedicine has been derived from the Greek word tele meaning at a distance and medicine which is from the Latin word Madera meaning healing.

3. History

4. The history of telemedicine will unveil how we got to where we are today. Telemedicine in the 19th Century:- The creation of telemedicine began with the inception of the telecommunications infrastructure, which included the telegraph, telephone, and radio.

5. Telemedicine in the 20th Century:- In 1922,  Dr. Hugo Gernsback featured the tele dactyl in a science magazine. Greenback predicted that this sensory feedback device would permit physicians to see their patients through a television screen and touch them from miles away with robot arms. Telemedicine Today:- Today, most people have access to basic telemedicine devices like mobile phones and computers. With improved accessibility, individuals in rural areas and busy urban areas can connect with a provider with ease.

6. Modern telemedicine:- The modern day telemedicine uses existing computing devices belonging to the patient or physician and inexpensive, self-owned equipment like smartphone cameras, wearable biosensors, etc., for gathering clinical data which made it easier to use without special training

7. Terminology:-

8. Telemedicine:- The most important term to clarify is ‘telemedicine’ itself. Telemedicine is the use of telecommunications technology and information technology for clinical services.

9. Telehealth:- The second most important term is ‘telehealth’. This term is frequently used interchangeably with telemedicine, but their meanings are slightly different. While telemedicine focuses on clinical services, telehealth focuses on all health services. An example would be a video-conference platform for nurse education.

10. Digital Medical Devices:- Items that would be considered digital medical devices include blood pressure cuffs, glucometers, pulse oximeters, and more. Electronic Medical Record (EMR):- EMR’s allow healthcare organizations to store, retrieve, and modify patient records.

11. Electronic Health Record (EHR):- EHRs commonly contain billing information, vital signs, medical history, and more. Encryption:- Encryption is a term often used when discussing the sharing and security of patient information. It is a system of encoding electronic data where the information can only be decoded by those given computerized access.

12. HIPAA:- HIPAA is an acronym for Health Information Portability and Accountability Act. It is mostly known for providing standards and requirements regarding how confidential patient information is protected and handled. Video Conferencing:- The transmission of digital video images in real-time between multiple locations.  

13. DEFINITION:- The World Health Organization (WHO) refers to telemedicine as “ healing from a distance “. It is the use of telecommunications technology and information technologies to provide remote clinical services to patients. Physicians use telemedicine for the transmission of digital imaging, video consultations, and remote medical diagnosis.

14. Current scenario in India:- WHO recommends a doctor-population ratio of 1:1000 while the current doctor population ratio in India is only 0.62:1000. Training of new physicians is time consuming and expensive, hence the doctor to patient ratio can be expected to remain low for a long time to come. This deficit is partly being made up by the active telemedicine services in various parts of the country.

15. Service provide by telemedicine:- Cardiology .Surgery Dermatology Psychiatry Oncology Home care Radiology Emergency care

16. Top Telemedicine Medical Specialities:-

17. Process There are also some telemedicine is conducted with portable telemedicine kits that include a computer and mobile medical devices, such as ECGs or vital signs monitors. High resolution digital cameras are also available for physicians to send detailed medical images to specialists.

18. Telemedicine vs Telehealth:- The term telehealth includes a broad range of technologies and services to provide patient care and improve the healthcare delivery system as a whole. Telehealth is different from telemedicine because it refers to a broader scope of remote healthcare services than telemedicine. While telemedicine refers specifically to remote clinical services, telehealth can refer to remote non-clinical services, such as provider training, administrative meetings, and continuing medical education, in addition to clinical services. According to the World Health Organization, telehealth includes, “Surveillance, health promotion and public health functions.”

19. Applications of telemedicine:- There are few limitations to how telemedicine can be applied. Here are a few examples of how it is being used today. Follow-up visits:- Using health software for routine follow-up visits  is not only more efficient for providers and patients, but it also increases the likelihood of follow-up, reducing missed appointments and improving patient outcomes.

20. Remote chronic disease management:- The increasing rate of chronic diseases is a major challenge for our health system. It is a prime candidate for the use of telemedicine software because it makes it easier and less expensive for patients to maintain control over their health.

21. Remote post-hospitalization care:- One telehealth program for patients with congestive heart failure reduced 30-day hospital readmissions by 73 percent and six-month readmissions by 50 percent.

22. Preventative care support:- Weight loss and smoking cessation are the keys to reducing heart disease and a host of other conditions. Telemedicine can be a valuable tool in connecting providers with patients to make sure they get the support they need to be successful.

23. Types of Telemedicine:- Telemedicine is practiced on the basis of three concepts: Real Time (synchronous) Store-and-forward (asynchronous) Remote Monitoring

24. Benefits of telemedicine:- Increase Revenue:- See More Patients:- Convenience:- Cost Saving:- Get a quick 2nd opinion:- Patients love it:-

25. Disadvantages of telemedicine:- 1. Requires additional training 2. Reduce care continuity 3. Licensing issues 4. Technological restrictions

26. Telemedicine applied to medical practice results in:-   Minimal patient displacement for quality treatment. Decrease in the relocation of medical specialists to the patient. Cost effective method of health care delivery. More efficient and effective use of medical and technological resources.

27. Four steps guide before starting telemedicine:- Understand the Basics:- Before setting up a telemedicine practice, an organizations administration and providers should know how laws differ when using telemedicine solutions Deciding On Telemedicine Solutions:- After laying out the basics, an organization should decide what type of telemedicine solutions to offer. A telemedicine expert like V See offers a text and video collaboration app, a Virtual waiting room, and more.

28. . The Equipment:- V See urges organizations to try and  so physicians can get a feel for sharing medical documents and streaming digital device images. Understand Regulations and Reimbursements:- Policies and regulations in the telemedicine arena can be confusing for providers, vendors, and payers. Organizations interested in implementing telemedicine should be familiar in their state.

29. Barriers of Telemedicine:- Provider Reimbursement:- If private payers, Medicaid, and Medicare choose not to reimburse organizations for telemedicine, then the fee falls on the hospitals. Some hospitals are able to receive grants, but there are only so many that can go around.

30. Physician Licensing:- Although telemedicine itself permits physicians to treat patients nationwide, there are restrictions on who can provide services across state lines. States with large rural areas with limited access to care could greatly benefit from this, but varying state regulations make the process challenging. Security Concerns:- Providers and patients alike have concerns with telemedicine due to the mass amount of sensitive information in the healthcare world.

31. Role of nurse Nurses work in different roles in telemedicine. They might use telemedicine to interact virtually with the physician while caring for a patient in the community. This can permit information sharing from the patient's home and result in earlier notification of pertinent issues.

32. Patient consultations can also be initiated through teleconferencing within an office or telehealth facility with the nurse's assistance. The nurse monitors the equipment and the patient while checking vital signs and performing other tests. The information is then sent for physician review. This can enable early detection, early initiation of treatment and improved patient care.