Electronic Health Coach
The third wave in telemedicine is the patient-centric electronic health coach with intentions to inform, advise and motivate healthcare consumers as a means of promoting better-informed decisions and improved health outcomes. Effective electronic
health coaching incorporates all of the types of applications discussed above – access to integrated patient records, real-time patient examination and direct-to-patient communications. The ability to jointly review patient records along with live images, coupled with real-time, interactive conversations, enables sharing of information and immediate feedback concerning healthcare options.
One particularly effective application we have seen is at the Champagne Urbana Public Health District. Their work with the underserved population in neighborhood clinics utilizes this electronic coaching technology to provide immediate feedback while the patient is still in the clinic. Their efforts have served to retain more of the city’s indigent population within the healthcare system and have made inroads into more effective treatment interventions.
Other technological advances further enable patient-centric applications. Remote monitoring and feedback through various devices provides critical health-related information direct to the provider and to patients via secure mobile phone networks. Uses in conditions such as diabetes promote patient compliance, improve quality of life and reduce overall treatment costs. In many cases, such feedback can avoid life-threatening events. A successful program at a pediatric ward in the Midwest utilizes a GlobalMedia mobile medical cart and EasyShare® technology to monitor patients in the pediatric ICU unit. Even from a remote location, an oncall physician can see, hear and code a patient 24/7.
Each of these three waves in telemedicine evolution, due to enhanced technology, serves an important role in medicine today. The integration of information, interoperability, wireless technology, software enhancement, the Internet and compliant security merge critical tools and capabilities together to form information-rich collaborative communication tools to telemedicine applications that are affordable, efficient and effective. While the evolution continues, solutions are available today.
Importantly, medical needs – not technology – are driving the development of new applications in telemedicine. At GlobalMedia, many of our products were developed as a direct result of consulting with medical professionals active in telemedicine. As clinicians and researchers continue to identify needs and propose solutions, the promise of telemedicine will grow and be realized. |
