Medical technology

Telehealth

• MILESTONES IN THE EVOLUTION OF TECHNOLOGY
• FIRST MILESTONE – THE TELEPHONE

• NEBRASKA PSYCHIATRIC INSTITUTE (EARLY 1960’S) – IMPLEMENTATION
• OF AUDIOVISUAL TECHNOLOGY

• LOGAN AIRPORT TELEDERMATOLOGY PROJECT (LATE 60’S) – INTERACTIVE, CLOSED-CIRICUIT BLACK/WHITE TELEVISION.

• NASA USED TELEHEALTH TO MONITOR ASTRONAUTS IN SPACE AND PROVIDE EMERGENT CARE AS NECESSARY.

• USED AT ANARTIC SURVEY STATIONS BECAUSE THEY WERE UNABLE TO EASILY EVACUATE SICK PERSONNEL.

• POTENTIAL BENEFITS:
• EXPAND ACCESS TO HEALTH CARE AND REHABILITATION SERVICES
• IMPROVE QUALITY OF CARE
• MORE FREQUENT VISITATIONS

• PROVIDE MORE ACCESS TO THOSE IN RURAL AREAS
• CONVENIENCE FOR BOTH PATIENT AND PROVIDER
• VAST NUMBER OF EXPANDED SERVICES PROVIDED

• PLETHORA OF HEALTH CARE INFORMATION
• WORLDWIDE DATABASES
• LIBRARIES
• CONFERENCES
• RECORDS
• SUPPORT COMMUNITIES

• ENCOURAGE PATIENTS TO BECOME ACTIVE IN THEIR HEALTH CARE
• ALLOWS PHYSICIANS TO WORK COLLABORATIVELY WITH THEIR COLLEAGUES FROM DISTANT LOCATIONS.

• PHYSICIANS CAN DISCUSS NEW AND LATEST ADVANCES IN CARE, SEEK OPINIONS, CONDUCT RESEARCH, ETC.

• PRIMARY CARE ON-LINE SERVICES
• SCHEDULING APPOINTMENTS
• E-MAIL PHYSICIAN – ALLEVIATES PHONE TAG, CONVENIENT, QUICK
• PRESCRIPTIONS, AS WELL AS THE CAPACITY TO DOUBLE-CHECK FOR ACCURACY

• PURCHASE OF MEDICAL PRODUCTS
• LEAVES ROOM TO ASK PHYSICIAN QUICK QUESTIONS THAT DO NOT WARRANT A VISIT
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