Page 9 Telehealth and Remote Patient Monitoring RPM for Long Termand Post Acute Care A Primer and Provider Selection Guide 2013

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2.4 Health and Wellness Technologies include both clinical services (e.g., teleradiology in
which test results are forwarded to another facil-
Health and wellness technologies include health ity for diagnosis; home monitoring to supplement
promotion technologies, behavioral and health sta- home visits from nursing professionals) as well as
tus monitoring systems, telehealth and telemedicine non-clinical services (e.g., continuing professional
systems, and medication management technologies, education, including presentations by specialists to
which focus on the physical health and wellness of general practitioners). 8
seniors. In addition, cognitive assessment technolo-
gies, reminder systems and cognitive monitoring, There are two primary modes of delivering tele-
and stimulation technologies, which focus on the health:
mental health and wellness of seniors, are also clas-
sified under this category. Finally, these technolo- 2.4.1.1.1 Store-and-Forward (Asynchronous):
gies include physical exercise and rehabilitation In store-and-forward telehealth, clinical informa-
technologies. tion (e.g., data, images, sound, video) is captured
locally, then temporarily stored for transfer at a
2.4.1 Telehealth, Remote Patient Monitoring later time as encrypted e-mail or messages using
(RPM) and Telemedicine specially-designed store-and-forward communica-
tions modems and software, to a secure web server
Telehealth, remote patient monitoring (RPM) and or EHR, either via phone lines or high-speed inter-
telemedicine capabilities are defined as the use of net connection (including DSL, ADSL, cable, fiber-
electronic communication and information tech- optic or cellular modems). The consulting provider
nologies to allow interaction between providers and then reviews the stored data and makes diagnosis,
patients in different locations (e.g., wound consul- treatment, and planning recommendations. 9
tation by a physician at an offsite location using
audiovisual equipment, monitoring blood pressure, 2.4.1.1.2 Real-Time Interactive Systems
etc.). (Synchronous):

2.4.1.1 Telehealth Real-time telehealth sessions are live and interac-
tive, and frequently use videoconferencing tech-
Telehealth can be defined broadly as the use of nologies. Often, special instruments such as a video
electronic information and telecommunications otoscope (to examine the ear) or an electronic
technologies to provide access to health assessment, stethoscope are operated by a nurse or technician
diagnosis, intervention, consultation, supervision at the consulting provider’s direction to remotely
information and education across a distance. 6, 7 perform a physical examination. Or, real-time
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Telehealth technologies include telephones, fac- communication may be a patient and a nurse prac-
simile machines, electronic mail systems, video- titioner consulting with a specialist via a live audio/
conferencing, and RPM devices, which are used video link, or a physician and a patient in an exam
to collect and transmit data for monitoring and room communicating through an interpreter who
interpretation. Common applications of telehealth is connected by phone or webcam.

LeadingAge Center for Aging Services Technologies (CAST)