Figures
- Figure 1
An example of eHealth platform. SpO2: oxygen saturation measured by pulse oximetry; GP: general practitioner.
- Figure 2
A nurse case manager during a video conference with a COPD patient.
- Figure 3
An example of flow/volume curve during a telespirometry.
- Figure 4
A physiotherapist case manager during a video training session with a COPD patient.
Tables
- Table 1
Definitions and applications
Telemedicine Distribution of health services in conditions where distance is a critical factor, by healthcare providers that use ICT to exchange information useful for diagnosis at distance Telecommunications Use of cable connections, radio, optical means or other electromagnetic channels to transmit or receive signals, such as voice, data or video communications Telematics Use of telecommunications to permit computers to transfer programs and data Teleconsultation Second opinion on demand between patient/family and staff or among health operators; opinions, advice provided at distance between two or more parties separated geographically Telemonitoring Digital/broadband/satellite/wireless or Bluetooth transmission of physiological and other noninvasive data (i.e. biological storage data transfer) Decision support systems According to a sentinel value, an alert starts for health personnel, who call patient Remote diagnosis Identifying a disease by the assessment of the data transmitted to the receiving party through instrumentation monitoring a patient away from the clinic Tele-evaluation On-demand data transfer to use as biological outcome measures Telecare Network of health and social services in a specific area; in case of emergency, patient calls medical personnel, emergency call service or members of family Telerehabilitation Allows reception of homecare and guidance on the process of rehabilitation through connections for point-to-point video conferencing between a central control unit and a patient at home Telecoaching Direct reinforcement or recorded messages/communications to improve adherence Teleconference, audio Electronic two-way voice communication between two or more people located in different places Reproduced from [3].
- Table 2
Legal risks of telemedicine [3]
Teleconsultation may fail to reach standard of care
Equipment or system may fail
Electronic data can be manipulated
Electronic record may be subject to abuse
The network may suffer from poor data protection (poor confidentiality, authenticity, data report, procedure certification, security and privacy)
The network may show difficulty to ascertain responsibilities and potential obligations of health professionals
- Table 3
Barriers to tele-monitoring [3]
Lack of knowledge of eHealth among patients, citizens and healthcare professionals
Lack of interoperability among different solutions
Limited evidence of cost/effectiveness
Legal problems and fears
Lack of transparency on data utilisation
Insufficient reimbursement schemes
High start-up costs
