The role of tele-medicine in patients with respiratory diseases. (2nd November 2017)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Ambrosino, Nicolino; Fracchia, Claudio
• Is Part Of: Expert review of respiratory medicine. Volume 11:Number 11(2017)
• Page Start: 893
• Page End: 900
• Publication Date: 2017-11-02
• Subjects: Tele-monitoring -- Tele-rehabilitation -- Ehealth -- COPD -- Sensors -- Asthma -- Interstitial lung diseases -- Chronic respiratory failure -- Ventilator assisted individuals -- Neuromuscular diseases; Respiratory organs -- Diseases -- Periodicals; Respiratory organs -- Diseases -- Treatment -- Periodicals; 616.2005
• DOI: 10.1080/17476348.2017.1383898
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1747-6348

Abstract

ABSTRACT: Introduction : Tele-medicine is a clinical application connecting a patient with specialized care consultants by means of electronic platforms, potentially able to improve patients' self-management and allow for the care of patients with limited access to health services. This article summarizes the use of tele-medicine as a tool in managing patients suffering from some pathological respiratory conditions. Areas covered : We searched papers published between 1990 and 2017 dealing with tele-medicine and respiratory diseases, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, asthma, interstitial lung disease, chronic respiratory failure, neuromuscular diseases, critical illness, home mechanical ventilation, and also legal and economic issues. Controlled trials report different results on feasibility, cost-effectiveness, and safety of tele-medicine. Expert commentary : Progress in tele-medicine widens the horizons in respiratory medicine: this tool may potentially reduce health care costs by moving some medical interventions from centralized locations in to patient's home, also allowing for the delivery of care in countries with limited access to it. Legal, safety, and privacy problems, as well as reimbursement issues, must still be defined and solved. At present time, we still need much more evidence to consider this modality as a real option in the management of these patients.