Telehealth
What is Telehealth?
Telehealth is defined as the use of electronic information and telecommunications technologies to support and promote long-distance clinical health care, patient and professional health-related education, public health and health administration. Technologies include videoconferencing, the internet, store-and-forward imaging, streaming media, and terrestrial and wireless communications (courtesy HRSA).
Telehealth Applications Include:
- Synchronous (Live): A two-way audiovisual link between a patient and a care provider.
- Asynchronous (Store-and-Forward): Transmission of recorded health information to a health practitioner, usually a specialist.
- Remote Patient Monitoring (RPM): The use of connected electronic tools to record personal health and medical data in one location for review by a provider in another location, usually at a different time.
- Mobile Health (mHealth): Health care and public health information provided through mobile devices. The information may include general educational information, targeted texts, and notifications about disease outbreaks.
Why choose Telehealth?
- Telehealth can reduce health disparities in AI/AN communities.
- Telehealth may provide access to care that was previously unavailable at your clinic.
- Reduced or no travel costs for appointments.
- Less travel for appointments means less time away from work or family.
- The potential for in-home appointments.
IHS and Telehealth
IHS is committed to using telehealth services to help achieve the mission of raising the physical, mental, social, and spiritual health of American Indians and Alaska Natives to the highest level.
Learn more about IHS and Telehealth.
