TELEPHONE
Telephones are already the most familiar household communication tool used in tele-health care. A telephone device can be augmented for easier use by patients, as needed with light pad, an audio-dial system, or a louder ringer.
VIDEOCAMERAS AND VIDEOPHONES
Videocameras and videophones are readily available consumer items that can be used in telehealth for show-and-tell demonstrations by health care professionals for patients or to capture wound healing progress, among other applications. Typically, these products operate as a standard telephone or as a video picture telephone, using standard telephone lines to transmit information or interactions.
PERIPHERAL BIOMETRIC (MEDICAL) DEVICE
Peripheral Biometric (medical) devices can consist of fully integrated systems, such as vital signs monitor, or they may be stand-alone communications-ready devices, such as blood pressure cuffs and blood glucose meters. Many of these devices plug directly into the household telephone jack to send data to a central central server location.
PERSONAL EMERGENCY RESPONSE SYSTEMS
Personal emergency response system are signaling devices worn as a pendant or otherwise made easily accessible to patients to ensure their safety and to enable them to quickly access emergency when needed, usually in case of a fall. A preset telephone number is alerted by the patient's pushing a button on the pendant; on this signal, predesignated emergency help is dispatched.
SENSOR AND ACTIVITY-MONITORING SYSTEMS
Sensor and activity-monitoring system can track activities of daily living of seniors and other at-risk individuals in their place of residence. These sensors and monitoring systems can provide insight into their behavior change that might signal changes or deterioration of health status. Such technologies consist of wireless motion sensors that are strategically placed around the residence and can detect motion on a 24-hour basis.
MEDICATION MANAGEMENT DEVICE
Medication management devices address a well-recognized major problem in health care. A host of telecommunications ready medication devices have become available, and many more are in development. These medication tools send data from the device back to a central server so that patient's medication compliance can be tracked.
SPECIAL NEEDS TELECOMMUNICATION-READY DEVICE
Special needs telecommunication ready-devices can include preprogrammed, multi-functional infusion pumps for meeting a range of infusion needs. Many such tools are in development to meet the more demanding and challenging needs of today's at home patient.
CENTRAL STATIONS, WEB SERVERS AND PORTALS
Central stations, Web servers and portals are various terms for the technologies presently used as a part of multifunctional telehealth care platform. These clinical management software programs receive and display the patients vitals signs and other information from a medical device.
Real-time telehealth systems, for instance, require a webcam to connect patients and providers (or providers with a referring specialist) through 2-way video. Some telehealth systems might incorporate a simple digital camera that allows patients to take a photo of a rash, and infection, or a skin abnormality and share it securely with their doctor.
