8(th) International conference on management and rehabilitation of chronic respiratory failure: the long summaries – Part 3

Ambrosino, Nicolino; Casaburi, Richard; Chetta, Alfredo; Clini, Enrico; Donner, Claudio F.; Dreher, Michael; Goldstein, Roger; Jubran, Amal; Nici, Linda; Owen, Caroline A.; Rochester, Carolyn; Tobin, Martin J.; Vagheggini, Guido; Vitacca, Michele; ZuWallack, Richard

Telemedicine (TM) is the distribution of health servicesin conditions where distance is a critical factor -by health care providers using information and communication technologies to facilitate the exchange of important clinical information [86] . TM dimensions may be divided into functionality, applications and technology categories. Functionality, in turn, may be divided into: a) Tele-consultation: Second opinion on demand between patient/family and staff or among health operators; opinions, advice provided at distance between two or more parties separated geographically b) Decision support system: Alerting health personnel, in response to a sentinel value, who then contact the patient or caregivers c) Remote diagnosis: Identifying a disease by the assessment of the data transmitted to the receiving party through instrumentation monitoring a patient away. d) Tele-therapy: Direct prescription e) Mentoring (i.e., tele-coaching): Direct reinforcement or recorded messages/communications to improve adherence f ) Telemonitoring: Digital/broadband/satellite/wireless or bluetooth transmission of physiologic and other non-invasive data (i.e. biological storage data transfer) g) Tele-evaluation: On-demand data transfer to use as biological outcome measures h) Telecare: Network of health and social services in a specific area; in case of emergency, patient calls medical personnel, emergency call service or members of family i) Telerehabilitation: The system which allows for receiving home care and guidance on the process of rehabilitation through connections for point-topoint video conferencing between a central control unit and a patient at home. j) Emergency calls: Helpline service that gives the ability to initiate a call for help to an Operation Centre, usually active 24 h a day throughout the year k) Teleconference-Audio: Electronic two-way voice communication between two or more people located in different places, which make use of transmission systems voice, video and/or data. l) Telepresence: Use of robotic devices and other devices allowing to perform a task in a remote place by manipulating instruments and receiving sensory information and reactions. m)Telespirometry: Remote control of a flow volume curve through a spirometer which is then sent to a central processing and reporting