Technology and Health Care Paper
Technology and Health Care Paper
Darlinda Smith
HCS/531
March 11, 2013
Eugene Burwell
Technology and Health Care Paper
The purpose of this paper is to discuss how technology has impacted the health care delivery system. Health care technology is advancing at an increasingly rapid rate in the United States, and globally. Patients and providers are witnessing these changes through the use of telehealth, and telemedicine applications. Telehealth, and telemedicine are often used interchangeably, however there is a difference between the two applications. Telehealth is the use of technology to deliver health care, health information, or health education at a distance (U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, n.d.). Telemedicine is the use of medical information exchanged from one site to another via electronic communications to improve a patients’ clinical health status. Telemedicine includes a growing variety of applications and services using two-way video, email, smart phones, wireless tools and other forms of telecommunications technology (American Telemedicine Association, 2012).
There are two basic types of technology that make up telemedicine services. One, called “store and forward,” consists of capturing a digital image using either digital cameras, or digitizing a hard copy of the image. Once the image is captured (stored), it is then sent to another location (forward), where the physician can make a diagnosis. The most common use of this type of technology is teleradiology, where X-rays are captured in one location, and sent to a radiologist in a separate location. Patients’ can receive a diagnosis within 24 to 48 hours after his or her office visit.
The second type of telemedicine technology is known as “real-time,” meaning that the patient and physician are interacting at the same time. Also called two-way interactive television (IATV), this method uses television screens set up in two different locations. The patient is able to
Darlinda Smith
HCS/531
March 11, 2013
Eugene Burwell
Technology and Health Care Paper
The purpose of this paper is to discuss how technology has impacted the health care delivery system. Health care technology is advancing at an increasingly rapid rate in the United States, and globally. Patients and providers are witnessing these changes through the use of telehealth, and telemedicine applications. Telehealth, and telemedicine are often used interchangeably, however there is a difference between the two applications. Telehealth is the use of technology to deliver health care, health information, or health education at a distance (U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, n.d.). Telemedicine is the use of medical information exchanged from one site to another via electronic communications to improve a patients’ clinical health status. Telemedicine includes a growing variety of applications and services using two-way video, email, smart phones, wireless tools and other forms of telecommunications technology (American Telemedicine Association, 2012).
There are two basic types of technology that make up telemedicine services. One, called “store and forward,” consists of capturing a digital image using either digital cameras, or digitizing a hard copy of the image. Once the image is captured (stored), it is then sent to another location (forward), where the physician can make a diagnosis. The most common use of this type of technology is teleradiology, where X-rays are captured in one location, and sent to a radiologist in a separate location. Patients’ can receive a diagnosis within 24 to 48 hours after his or her office visit.
The second type of telemedicine technology is known as “real-time,” meaning that the patient and physician are interacting at the same time. Also called two-way interactive television (IATV), this method uses television screens set up in two different locations. The patient is able to
References: section. I have obtained written permission from the copyright holder for any trademarked material, logos, or images from the Internet or other sources. I further agree that my name typed on the line below is intended to have, and shall have, the same validity as my handwritten signature. Student 's signature (name typed here is equivalent to a signature): __Darlinda Smith_________________