Telehealth

Telehealth refers to using telecommunication and electronic technologies and systems to provide services remotely. Using it in primary care (e.g., promoting healthy behaviour), secondary care (e.g., improving outcomes), and tertiary care (e.g., monitoring outcomes) supports providing healthcare efficiently, especially in emergency or crisis situations.   

Telemedicine is sometimes used interchangeably with telehealth. Telemedicine is the medical practice using digital technologies to deliver care, clinical services, and remotely monitoring the treatment by HCPs. According to a survey among experts, telehealth and telemedicine, if used adequately, can improve efficiency and equity in the health systems (Figure 2) [1] [2].  

Figure 2: Impacts of telemedicine highlighted by experts, by number of reporting countries. OECD analyses of interviews with experts from 13 countries (Denmark, Hungary, Ireland, Lithuania, Norway, Portugal, Poland, United Kingdom, Australia, Argentina, Finland, Iceland, Japan).

Patients, HCPs, and the health care system can benefit from telehealth and telemedicine. Remote services can increase the efficiency of HCPs' routine practice. For example, in many cases the doctor does not need to physically examine the patients during all follow-up visits. In these cases, the doctor can interact with the patient, while the patient avoids spending time and money commuting for a follow-up visit. Patients spend less time in a waiting room and doctors can concentrate on consultation services and focus time and resources on patients who need it most. Care teams can triage appropriately: some patients may need to be seen urgently while others can be deferred, and generally visit frequencies can be adjusted more efficiently. However, depending on various circumstances, including lack of technical infrastructure, or technical skills or other factors individuals may not be able to use these technologies.  

References

[1] Hashiguchi TCO. Bringing Health Care to the Patient : An Overview of the Use of Telemedicine in OECD Countries.; 2020. 
[2] Murray E, Hekler EB, Andersson G, et al. Evaluating Digital Health Interventions: Key Questions and Approaches. Am J Prev Med. 2016;51(5):843-851. doi:10.1016/J.AMEPRE.2016.06.008