For telemedicine to thrive, there are many challenges that need to be overcome. Health care organizations should develop telemedicine policies. To be successful and sustainable, telemedicine must be fully integrated into existing health structures and processes in a practical and policy manner. Integration can be achieved through aligning telemedicine initiatives with existing strategic health plans, policy goal-setting, accompanying action steps, and attention to policy barriers. Establishment of a policy forum that focuses on telemedicine policy would facilitate these needs. Telemedicine policies should incorporate capacity for education, research, and administrative functions, as well as health care functions.
- Growth of usage of Telemedicine There is every need for the expansion of telemedicine through education. The understanding of the telemedicine technology is very important to the expansion of telemedicine.
- Connectivity to rural and remote communities To enhance the application of telemedicine in health care, there ought to be access to fast and reliable internet. Such fast and reliable internet connection is not available in most rural and remote communities.
- Costs of Telemedicine: Not withstanding that telemedicine reduces cost, the cost of telemedicine is still not affordable to many especially those in rural and remote communities.
- Sustainability of Telemedicine:
- Usability: The degree of acceptance of telemedicine to the people depends largely on its usability. Poor usability could be inimical to the growth and development of telemedicine. Are the professionals to administer telemedicine readily available?
- Confidentiality: How confidential is the data being transmitted via telemedicine technology? The expected privacy and confidentiality of the medical setting cannot be guaranteed in telemedicine, because the patient's records and medical history are conveyed not only to the consulting physician, but also, by necessity, to several individuals outside the traditional medical team. The transmission procedure requires technical staff at both ends. The nature of the doctor patient relationship changes dramatically with telemedicine, thus it is nolonger easy to maintain the usual privacy and confidentiality that always exist between the doctor and the patient.
- References:
Benefits of Telemedicine
http://www.ortcc.org/PDF/BenefitsofTelemedicine.pdf
http://www.sickkids.ca/telemedicine/section.asp?s=
Information+for+Professionals&sID=16085&ss=Benefits+of+Telemedicine&ssID=17685
Other Benefits of Telemedicine
http://www.ojp.usdoj.gov/nij/