Chapter 12. Telehealth: The New Frontier in
Rehabilitation and Health Care
Overview
Telecommunications-mediated health care services
(telehealth) have grown substantially over the
past 15 years. Telehealth is the use of telecommunication
and information technology to provide access
to health information and services across a
geographical distance. Proponents have argued
that telehealth may resolve pressing national
health problems, such as the provision of adequate
access to health care information and reductions
in the spiraling costs of specialty services
to underserved areas, including rural communities,
military bases, and correctional facilities.
Telehealth is a subset of AT services. Both
strive to enhance the quality of life and independence
of individuals with disabilities and chronic
health concerns. Three pervasive problems in
the nation's health care system have contributed
to the growth of telehealth: a) uneven geographic
distribution of health care resources, b) inadequate
access to health care for certain segments of
the population, and c) the spiraling costs of
health and rehabilitation services. There are
two categories of communication technologies:
asynchronous and synchronous. Asynchronous communication
refers to information transactions that occur
among two or more persons at different points
in time. Synchronous communication refers to
information transactions that occur simultaneously
among two or more persons. Although telehealth
holds considerable promise as a tool for reducing
inequities in the allocation of health resources,
access limitations, and escalating costs, the
evaluation of the benefits of telehealth has
only recently begun. There is a lack of basic
information about how and under what conditions
telehealth leads to positive psychological and
health care outcomes. There is also limited
information about the cost-effectiveness of
telehealth services.
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