ISO Health Informatics Experience & Telehealth Services Through Covid
The policy and the resourcing of telehealth will determine the future of telehealth in the context of the COVID-19 epidemic. Flinders University conducted a survey of health professionals in order to learn about their experiences using telehealth to treat COVID-19. Telehealth was a popular option in Australia at the beginning of the epidemic. This allows doctors and health professionals to talk on the telephone or via online with patients. This was done to decrease the chance of transmission of communicable disease. This is especially advantageous for remote and rural regions that may not have an easy access to medical services.
A group of researchers from Flinders University including Professor Paul Ward, Dr Hailay Abrha Geosesew, Professor Anthony Maeder, Professor Hailay Abrha Gesesew and Dr Alan Taylor surveyed 91 healthcare professionals to assess their experience with telehealth during the epidemic. The advantages of legalizing telehealth as a service mode and a greater confidence in its service and increased financial and human resources are all acknowledged by clinicians.
"While some doctors believe the shift to Telehealth was prompted by the Pandemic," said Dr Alan Taylor of Flinders University. He is also a member and the lead writer of the Australian Telehealth Society Committee.
Dr. Taylor declared it impossible to determine if telehealth will survive the pandemic. This complex mix of policies and clinical practices will also affect the future funding of telehealth services. Dr. Alan Taylor led a project that developed an international standard for Telehealth services. International Standards Organization Health Informatics Committee issued the ISO 13131.2021 Health Informatics- Telehealth ServicesQuality planning guidelines. See the ISO 13131:2021 Health informatics -- Telehealth services -- Quality planning guidelines doc here.
Dr Taylor stated that international standards are an important part of world trade in goods, services, and with the increasing use of telehealth services, it is crucial to maintain the quality of telehealth services subject to ISO/TR 11633-2:2021 Health informatics-Information security management for remote maintenance of medical devices and medical information systems. These guidelines will be of great assistance to healthcare providers (including primary physician) who want to use methods to manage risk to set standards for quality and establish protocols for the operation of telehealth services. Check more ISO/TR 11633-2:2021 Health informatics -- Information security management for remote maintenance of medical devices and medical information systems info.
The standard includes:
Management of quality processes in the field of telehealth
Management of strategic and operational procedures in relation to the regulations Knowledge management (best practices) and guidelines
The healthcare processes that are connected to people include planning, healthcare activities and the responsibilities
Management of financial resources
Information security and management
They are processes that are related to planning and provision of infrastructure and human resources, as well as technological resources.