New Technology Analysis: Telemedicine via The Health Buddy System

Essay by turner62University, Bachelor's October 2007

download word file, 3 pages 0.0

Telemedicine via The Health Buddy SystemWhat is telemedicine? Telemedicine is increasingly cited as part of the emerging area of e-health for example: - the use of Information and Communications Technologies (ICT & the INTERNET) to provide health care. The World Health Organization definition of telemedicine is: "The delivery of healthcare services, where distance is a factor, by all healthcare professionals using information and communication technologies for the exchange of valid information for diagnosis, treatment and prevention of disease and injuries, research and evaluation, and for the continuing education of healthcare providers, all in the interests of advancing the health of individuals and their communities". Communication systems to give patients with or without their healthcare professional or informal career access to information sources wherever they are located frequently within patients' place of residence"The Health Buddy system serves as the interface between patients at home and care providers, facilitating patient education and monitoring of chronic conditions.

The system includes monitoring technologies, clinical information databases, Internet-enabled decision support tools, health management programs and content development tools. Through increased communication, behavior modification, and prevention, the Health Buddy system improves quality of care.

The Network's extensive health management programs cover over 30 health conditions and are compiled into programs that provide interactive scripted content based on standard practice guidelines. The programs are delivered via our monitoring technologies to educate patients, enhance medication compliance and improve patient behaviors. Each program consists of sets of questions and answers that encompass all of the key aspects of care for each chosen condition. Questions are divided between symptom, behavior, knowledge and general and build in education reinforcement and reminders to help patient's better manager their own care. Outcomes and standardized survey tools are also incorporated to track patient's progress and clinical outcomes during the program. Additionally, our flexible Health...