Patient Disclosures & Postings

Telemedicine (also called telehealth) delivers healthcare services to a patient at one location when the healthcare provider is at a different location.

It generally means using electronic information and communications technology to exchange medical information from one site to another to provide medical or surgical treatment to a patient and/or to participate in medical diagnosis, medical opinions, or medical advice.

Potential benefits

• Maintains continuity of care with your provider.
• Facilitates patient self-management and caregiver support.
• Broader access to medical care, including specialty services.
• Eliminates transportation concerns and saves time.
• Allows care in familiar settings (home or local environments).

Limitations

Telemedicine uses newer communication technologies for which there is limited research supporting effectiveness in all scenarios. Virtual visits may be less complete than in-person care because subtle non-verbal cues (posture, facial expression, gestures, tone of voice) may not always be observed.

How information may be transmitted

• Interactive, real-time audio/visual (e.g., secure video conferencing).
• Electronic data interchange (e.g., computer-to-computer exchanges).
• Store-and-forward (e.g., secure messaging or email of clinical data).

Privacy, security, and reliability

While precautions are taken to protect confidentiality, electronic transmission can sometimes be incomplete, lost, or disrupted by technical failures. Despite safeguards, transmitted or stored medical information could be accessed by unauthorized persons, which may result in a breach of privacy.