Telemedicine

This book provides an overview of key issues with regards to implementing telemedicine services as well as an in depth overview of telemedicine in pulmonary, critical care, and sleep medicine. Topics range from specific practices to program development. Telemedicine has experienced explosive growth in recent years and yet, implementing telemedicine solutions is complex with substantial regulatory, legal, financial, logistical, and intra-organization/intra-personal barriers that must be overcome. This book provides the necessary information and guidance to address those complex issues.

This book is broadly divided into two parts 1) a primer on requisite steps before embarking on telemedicine service development and 2) specific applications and examples where telemedicine is successfully utilized to improve quality of care in pulmonary, critical care, and sleep medicine. The first part includes coverage of telemedicine and finance, regulatory and legal issues, and program development. The second part delves into specifics with information on ambulatory telemedicine programs, inpatient consultations, and tele-ICU programs. All chapters are written by interprofessional authors that are leaders in the field of telemedicine with extensive knowledge of diverse telemedicine programs and robust real-world experience on the topic.

This is an ideal guide for telehealth program managers, and pulmonary, critical care, and sleep medicine professionals interested in improving their telehealth practice.

SECTION I: Primer on Telemedicine Program Development.- Overview and History of Telemedicine.- Regulatory and Legal Issues.- Telemedicine and Finance.- Intra- versus Inter-organizational Issues in Telemedicine Program Development.- Telehealth Services Framework.- Technology and Data System Considerations.- People Issues in Telemedicine.- How Telemedicine Can Support High Quality Care.- SECTION II: Application of Telemedicine in Pulmonary, Critical Care, and Sleep Medicine.- Ambulatory Telemedicine Programs for Pulmonary Diseases.- Emergency Department Based Consultations.- Inpatient Consultations.- Tele-ICU Programs.