ABSTRACT
Teleradiology is one of the more successful applications of telemedicine as measured by a bibliometric analysis of teleradiology research publications. The organizational diffusion of innovation framework is helpful in understanding the diffusion of teleradiology. Teleradiology had become part of the practices of two-thirds of radiologists who responded to the American College of Radiology survey in 1999. It is clear that teleradiology has become routinized even though quantitative data are hard to find. Telecardiology may be the next successfully diffused form of telemedicine. The potential cloud on the horizon for telediagnostics is political pressure to avoid outsourcing to foreign countries, particularly those to which US information technology jobs have already been transferred. How the outsourcing issue is resolved will have a significant effect on teleradiology specifically, and, perhaps, telemedicine generally.
Subject(s)
Diffusion of Innovation , Teleradiology/trends , Forecasting , Teleradiology/methods , United StatesABSTRACT
A new Home Telehealth Toolkit is available for those interested in establishing a new home telehealth program or improving an existing one. Developed by members of the American Telemedicine Association's (ATA) Home Telehealth Special Interest Group (SIG) contains guidelines, procedures, and sample protocols that can be adapted for all phases of a home care telehealth program.
Subject(s)
Community Health Nursing/organization & administration , Home Care Services/organization & administration , Point-of-Care Systems/organization & administration , Telemedicine/organization & administration , Hospice Care/organization & administration , Humans , Medical Records Systems, Computerized/organization & administration , Nursing Informatics , Nursing Methodology Research , Practice Guidelines as Topic , Self-Help Devices/standards , United StatesSubject(s)
Community Health Nursing/economics , Home Care Services/economics , Hospice Care/economics , Telemedicine/economics , Community Health Nursing/organization & administration , Costs and Cost Analysis , Home Care Services/organization & administration , Hospice Care/organization & administration , Humans , Medical Records Systems, Computerized/organization & administration , Nursing Informatics , Nursing Methodology Research , Program Evaluation , Telemedicine/organization & administration , United StatesABSTRACT
An integrated telehealth network that linked three hospitals, a federally qualified health care clinic with six sites, a county dental clinic, and patient homes was developed and implemented using both private and federal funding. The goal of the network was to deliver 10 different medical, dental, and behavioral health services to a rural community. The network served patients from nine different counties and two states. Outcomes from the disease management programs for congestive heart failure and diabetes, as well as crisis telehealth and teledental health, were reported. Results for the diabetes disease management program increased the number of diabetics who brought their blood sugar under control. Additionally, based on hospital days per patient per year with and without intervention, and the cost of intervention by telehealth, it was projected that the national cost of care for CHF hospitalizations could be reduced from 8 billion dollars to 4.2 billion dollars. This telehealth network can serve as a model for integrating health services in each county of the state. Once each county had an integrated telehealth network, the county networks could be linked to provide regional services and coordination on a statewide basis.
