What is Telehealth?

What are the benefits of Telehealth?

Where is telehealth today?

Where can telehealth go tomorrow?

Glossary of Telehealth Terms

Where can Telehealth go tomorrow?

Anywhere we want it to go!

Recent advances in information technology and telecommunications have made telehealth both affordable and feasible. As a result, telehealth has been recognized as a tool that holds the promise to provide better health, more informed choices, and equitable access to timely, efficient, and quality healthcare and health information. In addition, driving forces exist for implementing telehealth solutions, including health reform, evidence-based decision making, migration to self-managed care, and the principles of the Canada Health Act. 

However, there is concern that the pace of development and capability of technology will force telehealth ‘solutions’ upon us. With the continued fiscal and human resource constraints on health care, we have to make smart choices and invest wisely in the future use of technology. Telehealth, heavily reliant on technology, is no exception. Research is critical in order to continue to determine the impacts and benefits – and limitations - of telehealth. The Telehealth Program has been developed to carry out that research, and to provide the evidence-based information necessary to inform policy and investment...

   ... to allow us to make the smart choices.

© 2002 Health Telematics Unit.
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We welcome your comments or questions.
Contact Judy Hunter at hunterj@ucalgary.ca