Question

In a Word document, prepare a 2-3 page (500-750 words) written response to the following items to submit to your professor:

Identify the types of data and information collected in Telemedicine.

Select two of the types of data and explain how each is transmitted

Answer 1

Telemedicine:

The term telemedicine was used in 1970’s. The literal meaning is “healing at a distance”. It incorporates the Information, Communication and Technology (ICTs) to improve the healthcare outcome by enhancing access to the care and medical information. Information and communication technologies (ICTs) have the great potential to counteract some of the common challenges faced by both developed and developing countries in providing accessible, cost-effective, high-quality health care services. The geographical barriers can be eliminated or reduced by telemedicine and which will increase the access to healthcare services. This especially benefits the rural and underserved communities or groups in developing countries that traditionally suffer from lack of access to health care.

Telemedicine can also be utilized in remote emergency situations like accidents in the sea or in mountain or war front.

Modern information and communication technologies(ICTs), such as computers, the Internet, and cell phones, were revolutionary in communication and enrichment of lives. In simple terms, telemedicine is the use of these technologies in healthcare.

Telemedicine and telehealth are used interchangeably but are different. Telehealth is a broad term that includes all health services provided using ICTs by any of the healthcare-related people, telemedicine refers specifically to clinical services based on ICTs.

Four elements of telemedicine:

1. To provide clinical support.

2. Intended to overcome geographical barriers

3. Use of various types of ICT.

4. Goal to improve health outcomes.

The global boom of telemedicine depends on the replacement of analogue forms of communication with digital methods and the rapid drop in the cost of ICTs. The growth is further accelerated by the development of internet and scope of telemedicine to encompass Web-based applications like e-mail, teleconsultations, video conferences via the Internet and multimedia approaches like digital imagery.

The data and information used in telemedicine vary with situations. It can be electronic medical records (EMRs), medical images, biosignals, videos of patient etc.

Bio-signals:

The telemedicine system is a combined uses the real-time and stored data and can be transmitted from patient site to the consultation site. The vital biosignals like 3-12 lead ECG, SPO2, NIBP, IBP, Temperature and still images or videos of the patient from the patient site can be sent to obtain the medical consultation. The transmission can be attained through GSM, Satellite links or POTS. The accurate use of this will help the physician to telemetrically / virtually ‘move’ to the patient site and instruct other medical personnel how to handle the patient. The consultation site will be equipped with a multimedia database able to store and manage the data collected by the system.

Home – monitoring:

Continuous monitoring of the patient is very important in many conditions and it may be continued for an along time basis. To attain cost effectiveness and maximum utilization of the resources telemedicine can be used to monitor those patients. Home monitoring units must include the necessary equipment’s and transmission system to share the information with telemedicine team. The concerned person can evaluate the patient time to time. Wearable sensors and video cameras will be very useful in home monitoring.

The home monitoring site will be continuously connected to the monitoring site by means of Video cameras, sensors, communication methods etc. Any changes will be immediately noted and appropriate change in care is made by the healthcare team.   

Types of telemedicine:

There are three main categories:

1. Remote patient monitoring or telemonitoring: Example home monitoring

2. Store-and-forward or asynchronous telemedicine: Sharing of patient information, such as lab results, with a physician at different locations. Eg. EHRs

3. Interactive telemedicine :

Allows one to one communication in real time. Eg. Video conferencing