Has the Time Come To Embrace Telehealth as a System Solution?

A growing number of health care providers say that telemedicine is the key to health reform, arguing that the technology can enhance record keeping, reduce waiting times, cut unnecessary hospitalizations and reduce costs.

There also are those who view telemedicine as an expensive, intrusive technology, ostensibly a gimmick promoting exotic health care reform. Reportedly, half of the ailments in the U.S. can be treated via technology-driven delivery systems. It has been estimated that health care costs could be reduced by as much as 40% using advanced tele-diagnostic techniques. Meanwhile, medical services delivered to the workplace electronically, rather than sending sick employees home or to a traditional clinic can realize significant savings. Such services would be most needed where access to doctors' offices is limited because of distance, wait times or cost. Providing telehealth services in proximity to rural schools means less classroom time missed to travel to health appointments and less work time missed by parents to take their children to health appointments.