BROADBAND COMMUNITIES is the leading source of information on digital and broadband technologies for buildings and communities. Our editorial aims to accelerate the deployment of Fiber-To-The-Home and Fiber-To-The-Premises.
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TELEMEDICINE To Ensure Success, Assess Telemedicine Readiness The promise of telemedicine networks can be realized only if all stakeholders collaborate in planning and implementing the system. By Michael Spead / ICF International A re you a health care provider looking to expand market share and revenues without making a signifcant investment in building additional health care sites? Perhaps you are a state or local ofcial whose population is migrating (or worse – sufering) because of a lack of sufcient health care? Or are you a broadband provider looking to provide additional capacity and services for your health care customers? Have those health care customers asked how to get started with telemedicine? Tough the needs and goals of each of these stakeholders may be diferent, the solution is the same – telemedicine. In the 21st century, a competitive, sustainable broadband industry will drive innovation, community and economic development, education, health care, public safety and government services. Broadband technology is infuencing the convergence of the services existing telecommunications, cable, and data providers ofer, which promotes competition and innovation over both fxed and mobile platforms. In few areas are the benefts as apparent as in the delivery of telemedicine. Numerous federal, state and privately funded initiatives are growing telemedicine ecosystems throughout the nation, benefting patients, health care providers and insurers. Health care information exchanges support efcient data exchange and foster the creation of data and reporting standards. 86 | BROADBAND COMMUNITIES | www.broadbandcommunities.com Existing software, applications and technology are being used to build a solid foundation upon which innovation continues to occur. New and evolving technology, software and methodologies continue to drive health care providers to deliver services and procedures via broadband connections instead of in-person consultations. Further, a shift in strategic focus on medical outcomes rather than activities performed may also drive patients from traditional hospitals and doctors' ofces to in-home consultations. With careful planning, telemedicine can help drive better health care outcomes, generate additional revenue and reduce costs. Patients can minimize travel expenses, reduce lost wages and incur less cost to obtain care. Telemedicine also allows greater access to health care, ensuring that patients receive necessary care that might be otherwise unavailable via traditional, in-person care. Health care providers beneft through reduced long-term costs and readmission penalties, additional patient visits and opportunities to increase market share by reaching a larger portion of the population (especially in rural markets). Technology tears down geographic barriers, enabling highly qualifed specialists to serve areas with the greatest need (typically rural areas) with little concern for proximity or distance. Why is this important? Take, for example, the state of Idaho, where 35 of 44 counties, | July 2013