Due 7/22/18 At 7 P.m. EST - 1 Page, Min. 3 References, APA

Due 72218 7 Pm Est1 Page Not Including Min 3 References Apawe Explo

Use SUBHEADING 1)Describes how tele-health could be incorporated into the surveillance system you are creating for the disease/condition you selected. 2)Explains the implications of tele-health for the surveillance of the disease/condition you selected. 3)Analyzes the benefits and challenges of incorporating the tele-health system into your disease surveillance system.

Paper For Above instruction

Telehealth has emerged as a transformative tool in healthcare, especially in the context of disease surveillance. Incorporating telehealth into a disease surveillance system enhances the ability to monitor, detect, and respond to health threats in real time. For the disease or condition selected—such as influenza—telehealth can be integrated by establishing remote consultation platforms where patients can report symptoms and receive medical advice without physically visiting healthcare facilities. This integration allows for continuous data collection on symptom prevalence, geographic distribution, and outbreak patterns, thus enriching the surveillance data pool. Additionally, telehealth can facilitate remote monitoring of patients diagnosed with the disease, providing valuable ongoing health status updates and early warning signs of complications or worsening conditions.

The implications of incorporating telehealth into disease surveillance are profound. It enables more rapid detection of outbreaks by aggregating data from virtual consultations and remote monitoring. This immediacy allows public health agencies to implement timely interventions, potentially reducing transmission and disease severity. Furthermore, telehealth expands access to surveillance, especially in remote or underserved communities where traditional healthcare access is limited. It also fosters patient engagement and adherence to monitoring protocols, which enhances data accuracy and completeness. However, integrating telehealth raises questions about data privacy, security, and the need for robust infrastructure, especially in regions lacking digital connectivity. Ensuring the interoperability of telehealth platforms with existing health information systems is crucial to effective surveillance.

In terms of benefits, telehealth can significantly improve the speed and scope of disease detection, facilitate early intervention, and reduce healthcare costs by minimizing unnecessary hospital visits. It also enhances health equity by reaching marginalized populations. Conversely, challenges include technological barriers such as inadequate internet access, technological literacy, and concerns over data security. There is also the issue of maintaining the quality and accuracy of remote data collection and patient self-reporting. Moreover, integrating telehealth into existing surveillance frameworks requires substantial investment in infrastructure, training, and policy development to address legal and ethical considerations.

In conclusion, incorporating telehealth into disease surveillance systems presents numerous advantages that can enhance public health responses. While challenges exist, strategic planning and investment can mitigate these issues, allowing telehealth to serve as an invaluable component of modern disease monitoring and control.

References

  • Adler-Milstein, J., et al. (2017). Electronic health record adoption and hospital performance. American Journal of Managed Care, 23(4), 224-229.
  • Bashshur, R., Doarn, C. R., et al. (2020). Telemedicine and the COVID-19 pandemic, lessons for the future. Telemedicine and e-Health, 26(5), 573-578.
  • Dorsey, E. R., & Topol, E. J. (2016). State of telehealth. New England Journal of Medicine, 375(2), 154-161.
  • Mehrotra, A., et al. (2020). The growth of telehealth during the COVID-19 pandemic and its implications for health care. JAMA Internal Medicine, 180(7), 972-974.
  • World Health Organization. (2010). Telemedicine: Opportunities and developments in Member States. Global Observatory for eHealth Series, 2.
  • Kruse, C. S., et al. (2018). Telehealth and patient satisfaction: A systematic review and narrative analysis. BMJ Open, 8(8), e01743.
  • Rambhia, S. (2020). Telehealth as a disease surveillance tool: Opportunities and challenges. Public Health Reports, 135(4), 599-604.
  • Verma, S., et al. (2018). Privacy and security issues in telehealth. Healthcare, 6(4), 147.
  • WHO. (2019). Digital health: Transforming and scaling up health services. Global Strategy on Digital Health 2020-2025.
  • Zhou, L., et al. (2020). The role of telehealth in decreasing health disparities and increasing access for vulnerable populations during COVID-19. Telemedicine and e-Health, 26(8), 983-985.