Page 14 - Telemedicine - Essentials of Virtual Care Delivery Part One

SVMIC Telemedicine: Essentials of Virtual Care Delivery

At the federal level, probably the most widely accepted

definition comes from the Health Resources and Services
Administration (HRSA/DHHS). This agency uses the term

“telehealth” and defines it as,

“The use of electronic information and telecommunications

technologies to support long-distance clinical healthcare,
patient and professional health-related education, public
health and health administration.” 7

It is important to recognize that electronic communication

makes geopolitical boundaries nearly as porous as
topographical ones. International authorities are just as

concerned with overseeing extraterritorial medical practice as
are the States of the U.S. The European Commission’s definition

of telemedicine is,

‘‘the provision of healthcare services, through the use
of ICT [information and communication technology], in

situations where the health professional and the patient
(or two health professionals) are not in the same location.

It involves secure transmission of medical data and
information, through text, sound, images, or other forms

needed for the prevention, diagnosis, treatment, and
follow-up of patients.”
8

For the purposes of practitioners and facilities, the first

question that needs to be addressed is the legal framework
governing the activity that is being contemplated. Is it
telemedicine? And, is it legal?

7 https://www.healthit.gov/topic/health-it-initiatives/telemedicine-and-telehealth [7/16/18]
8 https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/ALL/?uri=celex:52008DC0689 [7/16/18]

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