1. What Patient and Their Families Should Know
About Telehealth
Francillia Lubrin
Beverly Henry

2. Telehealth
Telehealth is the use of telecommunication and
information technologies to support long distance
health care. It includes the following:
Medical intervention/Consultations
Care Management
Illness prevention
Health education

3. Processes and Procedures
Telehealth Visit is scheduled
Informed Consent is gained from client
A question and answer session will be held with
client
All pertinent patient information is gathered

4. Process and Procedures
Examinations are done
Information gained during visit is stored as part of
health record
Any queries arising from consultation are discussed
Schedule follow up visit as necessary

5. Process and Procedures
Continues
The nurse or assistant will ensure that all equipment are
functional and the communication lines are prepared and
opened
Privacy and confidentiality will be maintained at all
times
An introductions will be done between all present
Initial information is given and discussed

6. Suitability and Safety
Telehealth covers a variety of health care areas. These
includes cardiology, mental health, oncology, paediatrics,
diet and nutrition ,psychiatry and chronic diseases to
name a few.
Telehealth has the following benefits and are therefore
suitable for these reasons:
Brings care to there to patient lives, which is cost
effective and less time consuming

7. Suitability of Telehealth
continues
It makes it possible to assess the patient in their
natural environment
Allows for fewer hospitalisation visits
Allows patient more input and control in health care
management
Allows for better monitoring of diseased condition
Empowers the patient towards health care goals

8. Safety of Telehealth
The telehealth industry is regulated to ensure the
safety and security of its consumers.
Government instituted policies and protocols
example Health Insurance Portability and
Accountability Act (HIPAA)
Wi-Fi protection services
Patient identification protocols
Data control and tracking
Technical support and maintenance of equipment

9. Technologies Involved
Live video conferences: enables patient, doctors and
specialist to consult in real time
Store and Forward Systems: Data such as x rays,
ultra sounds and other clinical information are
collected and later spent to specialist or consultant.

10. Technologies Involved continues
Remote patient monitoring: Home based monitoring
devices are used to monitor and transmit medical
data.
E Visits/ Consults: Is the use of Emails and phone
based consultations using secured Web links. An E
visit can also be a virtual house call where video
conferencing and store and forward systems are
used .

11. Technologies Involved
Continue
These processes are facilitated using
Specialised work stations
Videos equipments
Telephones (landlines ) and accessories
Smart Phones
Electronic blood pressure monitors, blood glucose
monitors, cardiac monitors and stethoscopes

12. Reduced Cost
Transportation – No need to travel far.
Hospital – fewer and shorter stay at hospital.
Better management of the disease.
Telephone – By using the telephone in your consultation,
you will avoid unnecessary medical cost

13. Security and Privacy
Your doctor knows that your personal information is
important to you.
Your doctor can only share your information with persons
involved in your care.
Doctor uses your information, when he refers you to
specialist for telehealth advice.

14. Security and Privacy cont’d
You will be alone most of the time in a room, without
persons moving in and out.
The healthcare provider must be aware of who is in
attendance.
Your personal information is any information that can
identify you.

15. Ethical and Legal consideration
The health provider needs to obtain permission from you,
before treating you.
You have the right too see your information, and ask the
doctor to make correction, if information is incorrect or
incomplete.
The doctor is held accountable for your information.

16. Ethical and Legal Consideration Cont’d
All your information will be private and confidential.
You have the right to be part of the decision making
concerning your care.
You are the one to give permission to the doctor, to
share your information with another person who is not
involve in your care.

17. Summary
Telehealth encompasses a broader definition of remote
healthcare that goes beyond the clinical encounter to
connect the entire network of care in supporting the
overall wellness of the patient. Not only utilizing
videoconferencing, transmission of still images, and
remote monitoring of vital signs, but specialist referral
consultation, preventative care, continuing physician and
nursing medical education via distance learning, and
integrated administrative services (e.g. EMR). (Doctors
Telehealth Network, 2006).

18. References
Retrieved March 19, from
http://www.grampiansml.com.au/cb_pages/telehealth_patient_i
nformation.php
Anthem Blue Cross, Conducting a Live Video consultation.
Retrieved March 20 from Fairchild, S. L., Elfrink,V., &
Deickman, A. Patient safety, telenursing, and telehealth. (ch.
48) Retrieved March 19, from
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK2687
Doctors Health Network, (2oo6). Retrieved March 25, from
http://www.doctel.net/index-7.html
Doly,C.A.,(Nov 2008). Delivering Care Anytime,
Anywhere:Telehealth Altering the Medical
Ecosystem.Retieved March 21, from
www.chcf.org/resources/download.aspx?id={4D3EA675-F49B-
4883-B5CA-0520DED53A52}

19. References continues
Fairchild, S. L., Elfrink,V., & Deickman, A. Patient safety,
telenursing, and telehealth. (ch. 48) Retrieved March 19,
from http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK2687
Health resource and Services administration Rural
health.Telehealth. Retrieved March 20 from
www.hrsa.gov/telehealth/
Retrieved March 20, from
http://www.bing.com/images/search?
q=pictures+of+telehealth&id=29F6EFD961ED660DA403
967F8CB144B7428733F4&FORM=IQFRBA#x0y21321