… Healing at a Distance By: PETER JUNE RUFON BSN-RN

Definition:

• Telemedicine is the delivery of health-related services and information using telecommunications and other technologies.

• It is “healing at a distance”. • It works by bridging the information and

communication gap between patients and health care members of community using technology.

Concept:

Types:

• Synchronous (Real-Time) = the exchange of pre-recorded data between two or more individuals at different times. = Example: e-mail describing medical case to an expert who sends back an opinion, diagnosis & management.• Asynchronous (Store-and-Forward)=requires the involved individuals to be simultaneously present for immediate exchange of information.= Example: phone referrals, videoconferencing and robotic surgery.

Issues:

• Technical Issues:= lack of supporting infrastructure.= variation in computer expertise among patients.

• Ethical Issues: = data security= privacy concerns.

Supports…

• Data Entry• Data Review• Patient Education• Videoconferencing• Electronic Monitoring

…increases productivity and quality service.

CONCEPTS OF SECURITY:

• Authentication • Transport Security • Authorization• Access Control • Auditing • Physical Security

Authentication = user ID and password, thereby securing the access to only allowed personnel and access allowed information.

Transport Security = secured exchange of information over the internet since data is encrypted.

Authorization = individual can access the file and patients information dependent on the rights given.

Access Control – limits access to specified data.

Auditing = traceability for monitoring, evaluation and improvements.

Physical Security – clinical data must be housed in a secured room with locks to be accessed by qualified personnel to reduce or eliminate tampering.

Computer security is never absolute.

• It is always a matter of

… relative risk

…relative benefit