While I have every confidence their systems will eventually be far more than HIPAA compliant, I’m reluctant to encourage any of my patients or colleagues to currently risk confidentiality for the sake of convenience.
As for the development of the psychotechnologies needed for expanding promote telemental health care, the American Telemedicine Association (ATA) has been bringing together vendors, researchers and clinicians from all medical disciplines from around the world since 1993.
US federal Department of Health and Human Services’ Office has announced that health care organizations that fail to protect health information privacy could pay up to $1.5 million for each violation. Indeed, penalties this is are severe.
The US Federal Communication Commission (FCC) announced expansion of the US broadband policy and funding. The Universal Service Plan is an Internet access fund to allow low-income citizens to have access to the Internet.
Our legal standard of care has not yet been expanded to include email, chat room or exclusive Skype-based counseling or psychotherapy.
The FCC, which delivers a national broadband strategy to Congress on March 17, issued a “National Broadband Plan: National Purposes Update” on Feb. 18 that highlights the need for broadband to support telehealth & telemedicine and offers a preview of other major goals.
Just because we have the ability to deliver services online in email, chat room or via public videoconferencing network such as Skype
VA’s home telehealth program cares for 35,000 patients and is the largest of its kind in the world. According to the department’s plans, it would grow to $163 million in fiscal 2011, more than twice the $72 million spent in fiscal 2009.
For a glimpse into the immediate future and how mobile apps will soon permeate modern life in the US, have a look at this eye-popping video!
