Telemedicine is the

Future
Joe Attokaren
HS 6300

Overview
„ Problems with US Healthcare
„ Telemedicine
„ Benefits
„ Issues
„ Solution

5/3/2007 JA 2

1
 Problems with Healthcare
„ Access
• Rural Areas
• Mountains
• Islands
„ Cost
• Unacceptable Rates
• 16 % GDP
• $2 Trillion (2005)
„ Quality
• Highly Variable

5/3/2007 JA 3

Cost

From Healthcare Economist

5/3/2007 JA 4

2
 Other Problems
„ Increase disease burden due to
chronic illness
„ Accounts for most of the healthcare costs
„ Limited / shortage of health care
resources
„ Nurses
„ Specialist in Rural Areas

„ Time

5/3/2007 JA 5

Telemedicine

5/3/2007 JA 6

3
 Telemedicine
„ Definition:
• The use of electronic information and
communications technologies to provide
and support health care when distance
separates the participants (IOM 2001)
„ Used For:
„ Patient Monitoring
„ Medical Consultations

„ Patient Education

„ Technology is already here

5/3/2007 JA 7

Telemedicine

Monitoring Equipment by Philips

Medical Consultations

Patient Education by Philips

5/3/2007 JA 8

4
 History
„ Balance Budget Act of 1997
• Some circumstances
„ Benefits Improvement and Protection
Act of 2000
• Limited reimbursements

5/3/2007 JA 9

Benefits of Telemedicine
„ Improve Access
„ Lower Costs
„ Improve Quality

Other Applications
• Prison Care
• Army Care
• Space Care

5/3/2007 JA 10

5
 Issues
„ REIMBURSEMENT
„ Licensing
„ Physician
resistance
„ Lack of Marketing

5/3/2007 JA 11

Issues

5/3/2007 JA 12

6
 Current Situation
„ USDA made ~$128 Millions available
• $62.9 for distance learning and
telemedicine loans
• $50 million in loan and grant
combinations
• $15 million in grants
„ WHY?

5/3/2007 JA 13

Solution
Telemedicine

Private
Medicaid
Insurers
Improve Access
Lower Costs Studies
Improve Quality
Medicare

Reimbursement
Government Research

5/3/2007 JA 14

7
 Solution
„ Increase Funding
From Government
• Reimbursement Telemedicine

• Research
Private
Medicaid
Insurers
Improve Access
Lower Costs Studies
Improve Quality
Medicare

Reimbursement
Government Research

5/3/2007 JA 15

Questions

5/3/2007 JA 16