Telehealth delivers health care and education at a distance through digital devices and communication technologies. The healthcare providers in this speciality use many techniques to promote healthcare delivery. Telehealth ensures it offers quality services and practices ethics similar to in-person healthcare.
However, the lack of a consistent definition has confused medical personnel, policymakers, and the public. The current medical improvement has made telehealth popular and better understood in society. Telehealth involves four distinct applications that help enhance better healthcare services to patients in different locations. These components include:
Store-and-forward
Store-and-forward focus on electronically transmitting medical information like documents, images, and pre-recorded videos to your specialist. Your specialist uses this information to evaluate your situation and offer services outside live interaction. Unlike real-time visits, store-and-forward services allow data access after collection and involve communication tools like secure mail.
X-rays, MRIs, patient data, and video-exam clips are data transferred in store-and-forward. Store-and-forward services are primarily used in pathology, dermatology, radiology, and ophthalmology specialities. Doctors commonly apply this service when live video and in-person care are unnecessary. Since these consultations do not require a specialist, services are efficient as you and your healthcare provider are available simultaneously.
Store-and-forward technology has various benefits for patients and medical professionals, which include:
- You can get healthcare efficiently and conveniently without travelling to your primary care provider.
- Store-in-forward helps to reduce wait times, especially in areas with insufficient medical personnel.
- Regardless of location, primary caregivers and medical specialists can review your conditions.
- Medical specialists can review your case anytime without creating a schedule with you.
- The store-and-forward program can overcome language and cultural barriers.
Remote patient monitoring
Remote patient monitoring involves transmitting your health and medical data to your service provider via electronic communication. Your provider is in a different location and uses the information to offer care and support.
The remote patient monitoring program will collect your health data from your point of care. Vital signs, weight, blood pressure, heart rate, and blood sugar are essential parameters in this program. The data is then transferred to your doctor in hospitals and clinics.
This health service enables your doctor to continue tracking your health status progress once your doctor releases you from a care facility. Remote monitoring will help you maintain health and allow older adults and disabled patients to live at home and avoid moving to health facilities. It also reduces costs by minimizing hospitalizations, readmissions, and lengthy hospital stays.
Live video
Live video, also called real-time, involves interaction between you and your specialist. Video devices include peripheral cameras, video scopes, web cameras, and display devices used as computer monitors or projectors. Doctors use live video for consultation, diagnosis, and treatment services. Video conferencing is cost-effective if you are institutionalized or incarcerated.
Live video is the most used application in telehealth. It is used in many medical applications, such as:
Emergency rooms: Video conferencing can connect to a specialist not present in an in-person visit. Doctors can support ICU medical staff to help monitor patients through interactive video communications for the entire day.
Consultations: Live video lets primary care providers consult a medical specialist in different locations. Medical personnel can also discuss patients’ conditions without travelling. Doctors can examine patients in remote areas directly via video conferencing where there is a distance barrier. You can receive healthcare services from your home if you have limited mobility. Video conferencing enables language translators to provide video interpretation services to multiple locations, enhancing the cost-effective expansion of this program.
Health education: Live video allows medical personnel to hold education programs with attendees in different locations. You can also access critical health information through this technology.
Mobile health
Mobile health offers healthcare, public health, and education information via mobile communication devices such as cell phones, tablets, and computers. It is a new and rapidly evolving service of technology-enabled healthcare. Mobile health mainly uses dedicated application software that you download on your device. Healthcare providers can use this technology to send messages to many people to create health alerts such as disease outbreaks.
Telehealth has made treatment services easy, convenient, and efficient. With the developing technology in the medical field, telehealth can reach many people and handle various medical conditions. You can receive medical care at any time and location through telehealth programs.