1. … Healing at a Distance
By: PETER JUNE RUFON
BSN-RN

2. Definition:
• Telemedicine is the delivery of health-related
services and information using
telecommunications and other technologies.
• It is “healing at a distance”.
• It works by bridging the information and
communication gap between patients and
health care members of community using
technology.

3. Concept:

4. Types:
• Synchronous (Real-Time)
= the exchange of pre-recorded data between two or
more individuals at different times.
= Example: e-mail describing medical case to an expert
who sends back an opinion, diagnosis & management.
• Asynchronous (Store-and-Forward)
=requires the involved individuals to be simultaneously
present for immediate exchange of information.
= Example: phone referrals, videoconferencing and
robotic surgery.

5. Issues:
• Technical Issues:
= lack of supporting infrastructure.
= variation in computer expertise among patients.
• Ethical Issues:
= data security
= privacy concerns.

6. Supports…
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Data Entry
Data Review
Patient Education
Videoconferencing
Electronic Monitoring
…increases productivity
and quality service.

7. CONCEPTS OF SECURITY:
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•
•
•
•
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Authentication
Transport Security
Authorization
Access Control
Auditing
Physical Security

8. Authentication = user ID and password, thereby securing the access to
only allowed personnel and access allowed information.

9. Transport Security = secured exchange of information over the internet
since data is encrypted.

10. Authorization = individual can access the file and patients information
dependent on the rights given.

11. Access Control – limits access to specified data.

12. Auditing = traceability for monitoring, evaluation and improvements.

13. Physical Security – clinical data must be housed in a secured room with
locks to be accessed by qualified personnel to reduce or eliminate tampering.

14. Computer security is never absolute.
• It is always a matter of
… relative risk
…relative benefit