The Senior Network held their September meeting at Pathway’s Hospice in Fort Collins. Steve Mecklenburg, Telehealth Coordinator with the University of Colorado Health Systems discussed the goals and benefits of Telemedicine.
Telemedicine is the patient’s medical information sent electronically from one site to another via the Internet, wireless cellular systems, or even satellite communications to improve the patient’s health status. It has been in existence since 1993.
Steve emphasized the first telemedicine program began in Colorado in 2001 using certified medical personnel for reviewing and helping stroke victims at remote locations. Telemedicine services include two way video or voice conferencing, reviewing still images, remote monitoring of vital signs, consumer medical and health information, and medical education.
Benefits of telemedicine include improved access to rural areas, cost efficiencies with less travel and shorter hospital stays, better quality care using specialists as needed, and higher patient demand for faster medical services.
Telemedicine is considered part of Telehealth defined by the American Telemedicine Association (ATA). It is supported by Medicare to improve medical response in rural areas. Several private insurance companies have also adopted Telemedicine practices. Even schools in selective states are adopting telemedicine for faster response times with sick students.
Telemedicine includes many new mobile devices and apps to monitor heart rate, EKG, blood pressure, oxygen levels, and insulin levels. More tests are being created using smartphone apps. Doctors can communicate to a rural area patient on his smartphone with video conferencing and monitor the patient’s vital statistics at the same time. For more information, please visit ATA’s website at www.americantelemed.org