Public Health Global Conference

Telehealth and e-health are terms employed to describe the inclusion of technology in treatment and healthcare delivery that is delivered from a distance that dislodges traditional models of healthcare. Through appointment-making and follow-ups as well as consultations and health monitoring, telehealth helps patients and healthcare providers make immediate consultations without physically meeting through e-health.

It averts face-to-face meetings and consultations giving an opportunity to people to continue their treatments in the comfort of their homes. It proves useful in cases where a patient has a long-term condition, in mental health cases, or for patients who need follow-up after surgery. Patients also benefit from more convenient access to medical care via video calls, over the phone, and secure messaging in spite of distance. In addition, Telehealth reduces the number of treks in and out, the costs associated with transport including fuel costs bringing health care closer and more convenient to patients.

Modern technology enablers of e-health which include EHRs, m-Health applications, and wearable technologies are indispensable tools in the achievement of effective health solutions. EHRs bring patient information together which allows healthcare practitioners to have cumulated information about a patient and decisions can then be made. Smartphone applications or M-health and wearable technology help patients monitor their health status, the use of medication, and exercises in order to enhance patient participation. All these applications improve patients’ involvement and help to create logical and knowledgeable-dependent care strategies.

This is an important factor in telehealth and e-health since patient information is conveyed through electronic means. HIPAA is essential in health cases to ensure that confidentiality of the patient details is observed under the emergent electronic structures in the facilities.

Increased use of telehealth and e-health systems in healthcare systems is beneficial but challenging because of technical infrastructure, digital proficiency, and, policies. With technology worsening these digital health solutions will become of higher importance, not only in increasing the availability for individuals to access healthcare, but also for increasing satisfaction and specific treatment plans for patients.