In very simple terms Telehealth is the delivery of health-related services and information via telecommunications technologies. Such telecommunications technologies as kiosk, internet or website, SMS text messages, television or radio. Telehealth offers the health and medical professions a means to make health information available to a wider audience on a range of telecommunication media devices.
People and communities need information about health matters. Information is a powerful tool and getting valuable health information out to people helps to keep them safe and to protect them. With today’s internet society of silver surfers, social media communities and the younger generation growing up with keyboards in their mouths, it seems an obvious step for health information to be delivered to people in an electronic way. After all most of society are now organising their lives via telecommunication devices.
Telehealth Solutions can assist in improvement of patients’ health whilst at the same time reducing the cost of health delivery.
The obvious benefits of Telehealth is that people can opt for information to be sent to them at a fraction of the cost to the sender compared to sending information by post, or by telephone. Additionally, the process of Telehealth tends to also be a lot quicker. At the press of a button the information can be sent to multiple recipients. Of course making distributing information quicker and easier also saves monetary recourses.
The NHS has been quick to embrace telehealth solutions and has many internet and tech-based services which it provides to patients. Those services and more can now be provided in the extended community – schools, libraries, leisure centres and other locations where people go. By providing information in the community the NHS can save money by ensuring people look after their own health through living healthier lives.
