Have you ever used a messaging application to ask a doctor a question? What about using a video app to talk to a nurse? If you have, you've used a telehealth service. This term refer to the use of electronic/telecommunications technologies to provide and support:
Telehealth services are thus achieved using a combination of
Let's learn about some of the general challenges surrounding telehealth services.
One of the concerns, as you can only expect, has to do with money. It's much easier to press a button and chat with a doctor than it is to put on some big boy pants, start the car, and drive to see the doctor.
So there is a worry that the adoption of telehealth services might lead to overutilization of strained medical resources, including a healthcare practitioner's time, and thus it will drive up the costs of healthcare in general, including insurance premiums.
Speaking of insurance companies, there is also a worry that these companies, and Medicare, may not want to reimburse for telehealth services. However, telehealth does have the potential to drive down costs either directly, by avoiding an unnecessary and more costly physical visit to a doctor, or indirectly, by keeping patients healthier by preventing disorders and thus avoiding the need to go to the doctor period.
Another challenge to telehealth is the law. See, each state may have its own rules and regulations with respect to requiring insurers to cover telehealth services. There can also be different laws about when these services can be engaged and what type of healthcare professional can deliver them.
Why is this a problem? Well, telehealth services are location independent. What if you need to consult with a specialist who is several states away? They might not be able to help you unless you come to them physically.
Many consumers might be eager to adopt telehealth services due to the hype by media, bloggers, and maybe even family. But we have to move carefully to evaluate whether the hyped up benefits of telehealth are actually realized.
Since this is a relatively new thing, there aren't many studies examining exactly which types of telehealth services are beneficial. More studies are needed to evaluate the cost-benefit analysis with respect to the patient, provider, and society in general.
Perhaps because of this lack of evidence, not all healthcare providers have taken very well to adopting telehealth services. But there could be other reasons for why adoption is slow. For some, it's just a generational issue.
It's less likely a 70 year old doctor set in his/her ways is going to adopt telehealth services when compared to a new graduate. Simple as that. For others, even the newer grads, they may not want to deal with telehealth services because it increases competition. There may be enough competition as it is within a city. Imagine telehealth opening up an entire state or nation of doctors to a patient!
Another issue surround telehealth services is something big data in general is creating: a big headache of what to do with a large amount of gathered data thanks to new technology! For example, telehealth services may include the remote monitoring of things like heart rate. But monitoring heart rate continuously and remotely is a new thing.
Not long ago, doctors only had so many data points to deal with. With near-continuous monitoring of vital signs, there could be a flood of data that may be useless or even misleading. So there will be a bit of catching up to do with respect to how such technologies are properly put into clinical context.
And finally, there's the issue of success. Who is being helped and hurt by telemedicine on the provider side? For example, a hospital may have its own set of radiologists interpreting x-rays and/or it may have a teleradiology firm it hires to do the exact same thing. Is such an independent firm helping the hospital succeed financially or is it a competitor for the hospital who might be able to provide such services as well?
Telehealth services use electronic/telecommunication technology to provide and support health information to patients and professionals. This can be achieved with e-portals, videoconferencing, and much more. There are numerous potential challenges and issues surrounding this field.
For some, it has to do with money. Will they be reimbursed for providing such service? For others, it's a legal issue. Each state may have its own rules, so different laws about when these services can be engaged and what type of healthcare professional can deliver them may apply.
Some providers may not adapt to the technology because of a generational gap or because of the fact that they don't want increased competition among other providers.
With all the new data that telehealth collects, there is the problems of what to do with it all, and is some of it even useful? Though there is a lot of hype promoting teleheath services, a shortage of studies for this new line of healthcare contributes to a lack of evidence of cost-benefit analysis for both provider and patient. More time is needed to evaluate the overall success of this new method.
Medical Disclaimer: The information on this site is for your information only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice.
To unlock this lesson you must be a Study.com Member.
Create your account
Already a member? Log In
BackAlready registered? Log in here for access
Did you know… We have over 200 college courses that prepare you to earn credit by exam that is accepted by over 1,500 colleges and universities. You can test out of the first two years of college and save thousands off your degree. Anyone can earn credit-by-exam regardless of age or education level.
To learn more, visit our Earning Credit Page
Not sure what college you want to attend yet? Study.com has thousands of articles about every imaginable degree, area of study and career path that can help you find the school that's right for you.
Back To Course
Health 309: Healthcare Informatics10 chapters | 58 lessons
{{courseNav.course.topics.length}} chapters | {{courseNav.course.mDynamicIntFields.lessonCount}} lessons | {{course.flashcardSetCount}} flashcard set{{course.flashcardSetCoun > 1 ? 's' : ''}}
| 30 day money back guarantee | |||
|
Starting
Original Price |
/yr | /mo | |
| Just Just | /day | ||
| Discount For months |
- % - | / | |
| Referral Credit | - | ||
|
Price after trial Starting Price starting today |
/ | ||
| Referral Credit |
- | ||
| Price starting today | / | ||
| Just Just | Just Just | /day | |
| Save % off monthly plan | /mo | ||
| Just | /mo | ||
| Price | /yr | ||
Your Cart is Empty. Please Choose a Product.
Watch 5 minute video clips, get step by step explanations, take practice quizzes and tests to master any topic.
Study.com has a library of 450,000 question and answers for covering your toughest textbook problems
I love the way expert tutors clearly explains the answers to my homework questions. Keep up the good work!
- Maritess, College StudentStudy.com video lessons have helped over 30 million students.
"I learned more in 10 minutes than 1 month of chemistry classes"
- Ashlee P.
"I learned more in 10 minutes than 1 month of chemistry classes"
- Ashlee P.
"I aced the CLEP exam and earned 3 college credits!"
- Clair S.
Over 65 million users have prepared for {{displayNameByProductKey[registrationData.product || testPrepCocoon]}} and other exams on Study.com
"The videos have changed the way I teach! The videos on Study.com accomplish in 5 minutes what would take me an entire class."
- Chris F.
Over 65 million users have prepared for {{displayNameByProductKey[registrationData.product || testPrepCocoon]}} and other exams on Study.com
Over 65 million users have prepared for {{displayNameByProductKey[registrationData.product || testPrepCocoon]}} and other exams on Study.com
