Question

Analyze the role of the regulatory environment in adoption of telehealth.  Defend this role or devise a different alternative.

Answer 1

Telehealth use electronic information and telecommunications technologies to support long distance ,clinical,health care ,patient and professional health related education,public health and health administration.

Health care sector is highly regulated.Currently physicians providing telemedicine care are subject to same licensing regulations as physicians providing carre-in person.There are also restrictions providing care across state lines.The equipment used in telemedicine also has to be approved by the appropriate regulatory agency.Regulatory factors include physician licensure,equipment licensing and credentiallling,lack of reimbursement,malpractice liability and legal fears and interste licensure.

In the era of rising cost of health care worldwide,with shortage of health care providers and introduction of new health care delivery models.telemedice helps in improved collaboration and raises patient satisfaction.but there are some barriers for telemedicine adoption such as limited reimbursement,limited evidence,band width issues,state licensure laws whencrosses state borders as well as lack of standards,certified evaluation,sophistication on the part of patients and finally fear of malpractice.