Telehealth

Kevin Quinn, senior vice president of AMC Health, describes the remote patient monitoring vendor's telehealth services and its device-neutral approach to providing healthcare IT.

Pramod K. Gaur, vice president of telehealth for OPTUMHealth, talks about the payer's interest in telehealth's potential to drive healthcare access, healthcare quality and improvements to the experience of both the patient and provider.

(SPONSORED) Joel E. Barthelemy, founder and managing director of GlobalMed, talks about the company's telemedicine initiatives, its role with the VA and what the government can do to assist telemedicine development and profitability.

Mercy President and CEO Lynn Britton talks about the health system's telehealth initiatives at ATA 2013.

The American Telemedicine Association's 18th Annual International Meeting & Trade Show kicked off with a flourish on Sunday in Austin, Texas, as the trade organization works to drive adoption of distance-based care and prepare for rapid change as new virtual models are embraced.

Wendy Deibert, RN, BSN, executive director of telemedicine services for the St. Louis-based network, has been an advocate for the advancement of telemedicine and the development of new initiatives that help bring healthcare outside of the hospital's walls.

Telehealth has done big things for care delivery nationwide, particularly in the realm of pediatrics. Showcasing these achievements, the ATA's 7th annual Pediatric Telehealth Colloquium will underscore the work of clinicians whom have used telehealth to transform the concept of care delivery.

Can the current regulatory structure in place within the federal government keep pace with health IT without inhibiting innovation? A difficult question to answer, indeed, particularly in light of what National Coordinator Farzad Mostashari, MD, calls a "seismic shift" under way in three aspects of healthcare: how it's paid for, how it's delivered and how patients engage in their own care.

This year marks the 20th anniversary of the founding of the American Telemedicine Association. Over the last two decades, ATA has evolved, embracing the ongoing changes in medical technology, telecommunications modalities and the delivery of healthcare.

Although the telehealth concept has been around for decades, the changing healthcare business model combined with the proliferation of wireless communications may finally give it the spark it needs to really catch fire, market observers say.