Hays noted that American Indians and Alaska Natives have high rates of heart disease, diabetes and certain mental health conditions but limited access to specialists. Telehealth tools -- such as videoconferencing technology and electronic health information exchanges -- can help close the distance gap between patients and specialists, according to Hays.
Telehealth Success Stories
At the hearing, Hays commended the Alaska Federal Health Care Access Network program for providing telehealth services to more than 300 Alaska villages and federal sites, noting that the program has reduced patients' travel costs and improved access to specialty care.
Hays also touted the IHS Joslin Vision Network tele-ophthalmology program, which serves 78 sites in 22 states. Using Internet networks, the program sends retinal photographs to specialists at a central reading center, allowing for early diagnosis of diabetic retinopathy and recommended interventions that can reduce the risk of blindness, InformationWeek reports.
Barriers Remain
Despite the success of some IHS telehealth programs, Hays noted, "Few of these services are available system-wide and substantial variation exists across Indian Health regarding the availability of telehealth tools and the infrastructure to support using them."
Hays cited several barriers to more widespread telehealth adoption, including:
- Insufficient network infrastructure;
- Limited operational capacity for expanded implementation of training and technical support;
- Lack of clinical and support staff to coordinate and perform telehealth services; and
- Reimbursement policies for telehealth technologies that lag behind the available technologies (Lewis, InformationWeek, 10/14).
---
Quelle/Source: iHealthBeat, 17.10.2011
Bitte besuchen Sie/Please visit:
