What is telehealth?
Put simply, telehealth is healthcare at a distance facilitated by technology. The International Organisation for Standardisation defines Telehealth as the ‘use of telecommunication techniques for the purpose of providing telemedicine, medical education, and health education over a distance’, while drawing a distinction between this and telemedicine, which is defined as the ‘use of advanced telecommunication technologies to exchange health information and provide health care services across geographic, time, social and cultural barriers’.
Why telehealth?
Telehealth services use information and communications technologies (ICTs) to deliver health services and transmit health information over both long and short distances. It is about transmitting voice, data, images and information rather than moving care recipients, health professionals or educators. It encompasses diagnosis, treatment, preventive (educational) and curative aspects of healthcare services and typically involves care recipient(s), care providers or educators in the provision of these services directed to the care recipient.
Video is one of the main ways in which telehealth is improving access to healthcare services for patients who live in regional, rural and remote areas.
Instead of having to travel to the nearest major city to see a specialist, an increasing number of patients are using video. This facility may be offered directly to their home or work, by their local GP or at another local healthcare venue.
Telecare-run by volunteers and involves a phone call to a vulnerable person to their home with a protocol for follow up if they do not answer.
For further information or assistance please contact: Carolyn Millard (Health Independence Program – Nurse Unit Manager) on 0355210606.
Or to start a video, click here
