TELEMEDICINE

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• TELEMEDICINE

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• DEFINITION TELEMEDICINE IS THE USE OF MEDICAL
  INFORMATION EXCHANGED FROM ONE SITE TO ANOTHER
  VIA ELECTRONIC COMMUNICATIONS FOR THE HEALTH AND
  EDUCATION OF THE PATIENT OR HEALTHCARE PROVIDED
  AND FOR THE PURPOSE OF IMPROVING PATIENT CARE.

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• ISSUES
• DEFINING ALLOWABLE SERVICES TO BE REIMBURSED
  UNDER MEDICARE AND OTHER FORMS OF INSURANCE

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• DEFINING ELIGIBLE SERVICES TO BE INCLUDED WITHIN
  EXISTING GRANT AND LOAN PROGRAMS

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• DEFINING THE SERVICES AFFECTED BY STATE MEDICAL
  LICENSURE LAWS.

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• THE TELEMEDICINE OF TODAY IS RELATIVELY SIMPLE.
  THE TELEMEDICINE OF TOMORROW GETS MORE COMPLEX AS
  THE POSSIBILITIES EXPAND.

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• TELEMEDICINE AND THE WEB

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• THE INTERNET OFFERS CONSUMERS ACCESS TO A WEALTH
  OF HEALTH AND MEDICAL INFORMATION THAT CAN
  INCREASE THE KNOWLEDGE AND ABILITY OF THE
  INDIVIDUAL TO TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR THEIR OWN
  HEALTH.

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• THE TREMENDOUS GROWTH IN THE AVAILABILITY OF THIS
  INFORMATION OVER THE INTERNET IS A VERY POSITIVE
  AND APPROPRIATE USE OF THIS TECHNOLOGY.

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• THE INTERNET IS ALSO AN IIMPORTANT VEHICLE THAT
  CAN BE USED EFFECTIVELY IN THE DELIVERY OF
  MEDICAL CARE.

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• INCLUDED ARE THE DELIVERY OF PATIENT SPECIFIC
  INFORMATION BETWEEN MEDICAL SPECIALISTS AND
  PRIMARY HEALTH PROVIDERS.

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• ALSO INCLUDED IS THE ABILITY TO FURNISH
  DIAGNOSTIC, THERAPEUTIC AND EDUCATIONAL
  INFORMATION BETWEEN ESTABLISHED PATIENTS AND
  THEIR PERSONAL PHYSICIANS.

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• GOVERNMENT REGULATION

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• GOVERNMENTAL AND INDUSTRY REGULATION SHOULD BE
  APPROACHED WITH CAUTION AND ONLY ON AN
  INCREMENTAL BASIS. THERE IS GREAT DANGER IN ANY
  OVERZEALOUS REGULATION OF COMMERCE, ESPECIALLY
  THOSE INVOLVING COMMUNICATION OF INFORMATION.

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• SELF-REGULATION BY THE ONLINE AND MEDICAL
  COMMUNITIES SHOULD BE ENCOURAGED INCLUDING THE
  ACCREDITATION OF SITES BY PROFESSIONAL AND
  MEDICAL SOCIETIES.

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• A CLEAR DISTINCTION SHOULD BE MADE BETWEEN
  INTERNET-BASED ACTIVITIES THAT ONLY PROVIDE
  INFORMATION AND THOSE THAT SELL MEDICAL SERVICES
  AND PRODUCTS.

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• POTENTIAL ABUSE

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• SINCE THE USE OF THE INTERNET FOR ACCESSING
  HEALTH INFORMATION IS NEW, THERE EXISTS LITTLE IN
  THE WAY OF SAFEGUARDS FOR CONSUMERS.

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• CONSUMERS SHOULD MAKE SURE THAT WEB SITES USED TO
  OBTAIN INFORMATION ABOUT HEALTH AND MEDICINE ARE
  PROVIDED BY A RELIABLE AND CREDIBLE SOURCE.

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• IN SOME CASES COMMERCIAL INTERESTS SUCH AS A DRUG
  MANUFACTURER MAY SPONSOR OR CONTRIBUTE
  INFORMATION TO THE WEB SITE. CONSUMERS SHOULD
  LOOK FOR ASSURANCES THAT THE INFORMATION PROVIDED
  IN THESE CASES IS OBJECTIVE AND DOES NOT FAVOR
  THE SPONSORS PRODUCTS.

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• AT THIS TIME CONSUMERS SHOULD EXERCISE CAUTION IN
  USING WEB SITES THAT OFFER ONLINE DIAGNOSIS AND
  PRESCRIBE TREATMENT AND MEDICATION FOR THE
  DIAGNOSED CONDITION. THERE ARE CURRENTLY NO
  RECOGNIZED AUTHORITIES OVERSEEING THE OPERATION
  OF THESE SITES.

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• CONSUMERS ARE CAUTIONED AGAIN OBTAINING
  PRESCRIBED MEDICINES FROM WEB SITES THAT OFFER
  BOTH DIAGNOSIS OF CONDITION AND DIRECT SALES OF
  THE PRESCRIBED MEDICINE.

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• CONSUMERS SEEKING MEDICAL TREATMENT FROM HEALTH
  PROFESSIONALS OVER THE INTERNET SHOULD RECEIVE
  CLEAR ASSURANCES THAT THEY WILL BE INTERACTING
  WITH A QUALIFIED PROFESSIONAL HOLDING THE
  APPROPRIATE CREDENTIALS AND THAT THE PROFESSIONAL
  IS ABLE TO LEGALLY PRACTICE MEDICINE IN THE
  CONSUMERS LOCATION.

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• CLINICAL CONSULTATION OVER THE WEB BY
  CREDENTIALED PROVIDERS SHOULD INCLUDE PROCEDURES
  THAT PROTECT THE PATIENT INCLUDING

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• INFORMED CONSENT
• INFORMATION SECURITY AND PRIVACY PROTECTION
  MEASURES
• DOCUMENTATION OF THE CLINICAL ENCOUNTER

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• E-HEALTH REINVENTING HEALTHCARE IN THE
  INFORMATION AGE

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• ANOTHER POLL IN 1999 FOUND THAT 74 MILLION ADULTS
  HAD LOGGED ONTO THE INTERNET, AND 40 MILLION OF
  THEM HAD USED IT AT LEAST ONCE FOR HEALTH
  REASONS.

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• A RECENT STUDY BY NORTHWESTERN UNIVERSITY AND
  KPMG (ACCOUNTING FIRM) AFFIRMS THAT BABY BOOMERS
  ARE THE QUINTESSENTIAL GENERATION TO DEMAND WHAT
  THEY WANT, FUELED BY MEDICAL INFORMATION THAT IS
  AVAILABLE ON THE INTERNET.

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• HEALTHCARE PROVIDERS WITH WELL-DEVELOPED WEB
  SITES WILL REINFORCE THEIR BRAND IDENTITY AND
  GAIN CUSTOMER LOYALTY BY PROVIDING EASY INTERNET
  ACCESS TO DETAILED HEALTH INFORMATION.

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• NINE STRATEGIES FOR HEALTHCARE PROVIDERS AND
  BUSINESSES DOING BUSINESS ON THE WEB.

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• ADVERTISING

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• INTERNET ADVERTISING MAY BE THE MOST
  COST-EFFECTIVE METHOD FOR REACHING HEALTHCARE
  CONSUMERS. PHARMACEUTICAL COMPANIES THAT SPEND
  50 OF THEIR MARKETING BUDGETS ON
  DIRECT-TO-CONSUMER ADVERTISING ARE EXPECTED TO
  INVEST HEAVILY IN THE WEB.

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• CHOOSING PROVIDERS

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• MANY CONSUMERS DO NOT HAVE A REGULAR SOURCE OF
  HEALTH INFORMATION OR MEDICAL CARE UNTIL THEY GET
  SICK.

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• HOSPITALS AND HEALTH PLANS ARE EMPLOYING THE
  INTERNET TO MATCH PATIENTS WITH PROVIDERS.

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• A GROWING NUMBER OF HMOS AND HEALTH PLANS OFFER
  PHYSICIAN DIRECTORIES, WHICH CAN BE SEARCHED BY
  ZIP CODE AS WELL AS CLINICAL SPECIALITY.

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• CUSTOMER INFORMATION AND REFERRAL

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• INTERNET-BASED HELP DESKS ASSIST CONSUMERS WITH
  NAVIGATING THE HEALTH SYSTEM, FINDING A
  PHYSICIAN, AND CHECKING THEIR HEALTH PLANS
  BENEFITS.

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• ONLINE SHOPPING

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• THE WEB IS THE BIGGEST SHOPPING MALL ON THE
  PLANET.

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• DURING THE HOLIDAY SEASON IN 1998, ONLINE
  SHOPPERS SPEND 3.5 BILLION OVER THE INTERNET.

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• RESEARCH PREDICTS TOTAL ONLINE MARKET SALES MAY
  REACH 200 BILLION A YEAR BY 2000.

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• ONLINE SHOPPING HAS JUST BEGUN TO FOCUS ON HEALTH
  AS A BROAD CONSUMER NICHE. HEALTH-RELATED
  PRODUCTS AND SERVICES LIKELY TO BE SOLD WIDELY ON
  THE WEB INCLUDE PRESCRIPTION DRUG REFILLS
  OVER-THE-COUNTER DRUGS MEDICAL SUPPLIES FOR THE
  CHRONICALLY ILL, SUCH AS DIABETES DURABLE
  MEDICAL EQUIPMENT VITAMINS AND HOMEOPATHIC
  MEDICINES AND HOME FITNESS EQUIPMENT.

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• INTERNET PHARMACY

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• PHARMACY REFILLS HAVE BEEN IDENTIFIED AS A
  HIGH-VOLUME, HIGH DOLLAR NICHE THAT MAY BE JUST
  RIGHT FOR THE INTERNET.

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• MAIL-ORDER PHARMACIES MAY RAPIDLY BECOME OBSOLETE
  IN THE FACE OF INTERNET COMPETITORS.

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• PRICES WILL BE COMPETITIVE WITH THE DEEPEST
  DISCOUNTS AVAILABLE, BUT WITH THE CONVENIENCE OF
  NEXT-DAY HOME DELIVERY.

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• HEALTH INSURANCE SALES

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• HEALTH INSURERS AND HMOS ARE TARGETING THE WEB AS
  A FUTURE CHANNEL FOR CONSUMER REGISTRATION,
  ELGIBILITY VERIFICATION, AND TRANSACTION
  PROCESSING.

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• INTERNET-SAVVY HEALTH INSURANCE CUSTOMERS IN THE
  FUTURE MAY SHOP FOR A HEALTH PLAN FOR DISCOUNT
  INTERNET BROKERS.

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• CONSUMERS LIKE THE COST SAVING OF
  DISINTERMEDIATION (CUTTING OUT THE MIDDLE MAN).

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• NATIONAL HEALTH PLANS HAVE MOVED QUICKLY TO ADOPT
  THE INTERNET AS AN INTEGRAL COMPONENT IN THEIR
  SALES AND MARKETING PLAN.

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• MEDICARE HMOS AND PPOS COULD BE SOLD ONLINE TO
  A NATIONAL MARKET OF THE WIRED RETIRED.

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• ELECTRONIC MEDICAL RECORDS

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• PREDICTIONS FOR THE PROLIFERATION OF ELECTRONIC
  MEDICAL RECORDS ARE BEING REALIZED. NO PAPERLESS
  HOSPITALS EXIST IN THE UNITED STATES TODAY.

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• ONLINE HEALTH ADVICE AND TELEMEDICINE

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• WITH LITTLE REGULATION IN PLACE YET, SOME
  HEALTHCARE CONSUMERS AND PROVIDERS ARE VENTURING
  INTO NEW TERRITORY BY DISPENSING HEALTH ADVICE
  ONLINE, AND EVEN PRESCRIBING PHARMACEUTICALS FOR
  A FEE.

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• CHECK OUT...
• VIAGRAPURCHASE.COM WITH 48-HOUR DELIVERY OF THE
  PHARMACEUTICAL.

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• CUSTOMER SERVICE

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• THE INTERNET WILL BE WIDELY USED BY HEALTH PLANS,
  HOSPITALS, AND LARGE MEDICAL GROUPS TO PROVIDE
  CUSTOMER SERVICE

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• VERIFICATION OF HEALTH PLAN ELIGIBILITY
• EXPLANATION OF HEALTH PLAN BENEFITS
• SEARCH FOR A PLAN-APPROVED PROVIDER

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• OFF-HOURS QUESTIONS FROM PATIENTS OR ENROLLEES
• REQUESTS FOR REFERRAL INFORMATION, SUCH AS
  LONG-TERM CARE

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• OFF-HOURS QUESTIONS FROM PATIENTS OR ENROLLEES
• REQUESTS FOR REFERRAL INFORMATION, SUCH AS
  LONG-TERM CARE

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• INTERNET CONNECTIONS AND HIGH-SPEED
  TELECOMMUNICATIONS WILL NOT JUST SPEED UP
  MEDICINE THEY MAY REVOLUTIONIZE IT.

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• CYBERCHONDRIA

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• A MAJOR DRIVER OF HEALTH CARE WILL BE A SPECIAL
  FORM OF ELECTRONIC COMMUNITY THAT OF
  CYBERCHRONDRIACS, PEOPLE WHO USE THE INTERNET TO
  SEEK HEALTH CARE INFORMATION.

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• THE CYBERCHONDRIACS USING THE WEB TO SEARCH FOR
  HEALTH CARE INFORMATION THEREFORE ACCOUNT FOR 68
  PERCENT OR SIXTY MILLION ADULTS, A STAGGERING
  NUMBER.

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• NINE OUT OF EVERY TEN OF THESE PEOPLE SAY THAT
  THE LAST TIME THEY SEARCHED THE WEB FOR HEALTH
  CARE INFORMATION, THEY FOUND WHAT THEY WANTED.

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• AS THE INTERNET CONTINUES TO GROW, WE ARE ALL
  LIKE TO BECOME CYBERCHRONDRIACS TO SOME DEGREE,
  FOREVER CHANGING THE WAY WE ACCESS MEDICAL CARE.

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• END OF LECTURE FOR September 19TH , 2012
  TELEMEDICINE
• QUESTIONS?
• DISCUSSION?