Next Generation Telehealth

Summary

Objective

Telehealth has long been seen as a means of increasing access and quality of care while decreasing costs and logistical burden for remote health care delivery. Underlying technology to support Telehealth has been developed commercially. However, its widespread adoption has been hindered by numerous clinical, social, political, economic and management factors. This paper examines trends which may help to address this situation.

Methods

First we consider the current status of Telehealth based on some state-of-the-art reviews. Then we present some new future modes of Telehealth services, as described by various prominent authors. From these we identify some common directional themes and fundamental issues affecting the success of future Telehealth innovations.

Results

This position paper advances a view that Telehealth in the future will be much more driven by widespread pressure from two different drivers: more ubiquitous connectivity and related technological capabilities due to greater diversity in human communication practices, and new models of care emerging from diverse widespread movements towards health services reform.

Conclusion

The IMIA Working Group on Telehealth work agenda will address some specific items within the areas described above.

 

MissingLinkText

Keywords

Telehealth - telemedicine - telecare - mhealth - health services

 

 

MissingLinkText

• References

• 1 Bashshur RL, Sanders JH, Shannon GW. Telemedicine:Theory and Practice. Charles C. Thomas; 1997
• 2 Dávalos ME, French MT, Burdick AE, Simmons SC. Economic Evaluation of Telemedicine: Review of the Literature and Research Guidelines for Benef it–Cost Analysis. Telemed e-Health 2009; 15 (10) 933-48.
• 3 World Health Organisation. Telemedicine: Opportunities and Developments in Member States: Report on the Second GlobalSsurvey on eHealth; World Health Organisation. 2009
• 4 Doarn CR, Merrell RC. A Roadmap for Telemedicine: BarriersYet to Overcome. Telemed eHealth 2008; 14 (09) 861-2.
• 5 Ekeland AG, Bowes A, Flottorp S. Effectiveness of Telemedicine: a Systematic Review of Reviews. Int JMed Informa 2010; 79 (11) 736-71.
• 6 Latifi R. Current Principles and Practices of Telemedicine and e-Health. IOS Press; 2008
• 7 Smith AC, Maeder AJ. Global Telehealth. IOS Press; 2010
• 8 Istepanian R, Laxminarayan S, Pattichis CS. MHealth Emerging Mobile Health Systems. Springer; 2006
• 9 Wootton R, Patil NG, Ho K. Telehealth in the Developing World. Royal Society of Medicine Press; 2009
• 10 Mars M. Health Capacity Development through Telemedicine in Africa. Yearb Med Inform 2010; 87-93.
• 11 Kumar MA, Kanta MS, Lily K, Pratap SI. Critical Issues in Medical Education and the Implications for Telemedicine Technology. Telemed eHealth 2009; 15 (06) 592-6.
• 12 Koch S. Home Telehealth – Current State and Future Trends. Int J Med Inform 2006; 75 (08) 565-76.
• 13 Hartvigsen G, Johansen M, Hasvold P, Bellika JG, Ärsand E, Arild E. et al. Challenges in telemedicine and eHealth: Lessons learned from 20 years with Telemedicine in Tromsø. Stud Health Technol Inform 2007; 129: 82-6.
• 14 Norum J, Pedersen S, Størmer J, Rumpsfeld M, Stormo A, Jamissen N. et al. Prioritisation of Telemedicine Services for Large Scale Implementation in Norway. J Telemed Telecare 2007; 13: 185-92.
• 15 Speedie SM, Ferguson AS, Sanders J, Doarn CR. Telehealth: The Promise of New Care Delivery Models. Telemed e-Health 2008; 14 (09) 964-97.
• 16 Gogia SB. Providing Tele Mental Health Services after Disasters – a Case Based on the Post Tsunami Experience. In: Scupola A. editor. Cases on Managing E-Services; IGI Global. 2008: 238-52.
• 17 Bensink M, Hailey D, Wootton R. A Systematic Review of Successes and Failures in Home Telehealth: Preliminary Results. J Telemed Telecare 2006; 12: 8-16.
• 18 Smith AC, Bensink M, Armfield N, Stillman J, Caffery L. Telemedicine and Rural Health. J Postgrad Med 2005; 51 (04) 286-93.
• 19 Coughlin JF, Pope JE, Leedle BR. Old Age, New Technology, and Future Innovations in Disease Management and Home Health Care. Home Health Care Manag Prac 2006; 18 (03) 196-207.
• 20 Årsand E, Tatara N, Hartvigsen G. Wireless and Mobile Technologies Improving Diabetes SelfManagement. in: Cruz-Cunha MM, Moreira F. editors. Handbook of Research on Mobility and Computing: Evolving Technologies and Ubiquitous Impacts; IGI Global. 2011: 136-56.
• 21 Heinzelmann PJ, Lugn NF, Kvedar JC. Telemedicine in the Future. J Telemed Telecare 2005; 11: 384-90.
• 22 Whitten P, Holtz B, Nguyen L. Keys to a Successful and Sustainable Telemedicine Program. Int J Technol Assess Health Care 2010; 26: 211-21.
• 23 Ackerman MJ, Filart R, Burgess LP, Lee I, Poropatich RK. Developing Next-Generation Telehealth Tools and Technologies: Patients, Systems, and Data Perspectives. Telemed e-Health 2010; 16 (01) 93-5.
• 24 International Telecommunications Union. Question 14-2/2: Mobile eHealth Solutions for Developing Countries. International Telecommunications Union. 2010
• 25 Obstfelder A, Engeseth KH, Wynn R. Characteristics of Successfully Implemented Telemedical Applications. Impl Sci 2007; 02: 25.