(Week 6) [T10] Telehealth

Question 1

Complete the following phrases.

• Telemedicine and telehealth are the [1].
• ‘Tele’ means [2]. Tele + X = TeleX (new terms with that prefix).
• Not the same as E-health ([3]).
• Telehealth involves the use of [4].
• Move the [5] instead of the people.

Answer 1

[1] same exact thing
[2] distance
[3] which is healthy living using technology
[4] telecommunications and virtual technology to deliver health care outside of traditional health-care facilities
[5] information

Question 2

What are the advantages of telehealth?

Answer 2

+ Improves access, flexibility and movability.
+ Avoid risks of unnecessary hospital visits.
+ Removing transcription error (when passing from person to person).
+ Equality of distribution of healthcare services.
+ Lowering of costs of treatment.

Question 3

What are the disadvantages of telehealth?

Answer 3

• Fakers. Patients are often asked to keep a patient diary (sometimes they try to fake it).
• Non-compliance. When you add the distance to it, the non-compliance increases. For example, 10% of the patients in the US do not want to take the medication).

Question 4

What are the challenges of telehealth? (IUPMT)

Answer 4

1. Infrastructure related: equipment, communication, technology.
2. User related: literacy, acceptance.
3. Process related: security, ethical concerns.
4. Management related: quality control, legislation.
5. Timing related: user training

Question 5

What distinguishes synchronous and asynchronous telehealth?

Answer 5

• Synchronous (in real-time): phone or video consultation videoconference.
• Asynchronous (store and forward): e-mail, teleradiology.