Telehealth Trends and the Challenge for Infrastructure

BACKGROUND: As telehealth takes advantage of improved networks, there is a growing need to understand the infrastructure needs of future telehealth developments. This work aims to predict such needs based on current trends and research. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We conducted a literature review of telehealth with a focus on advanced network infrastructure. We drew inferences from our previous demonstrator projects in advanced telehealth, but the most important findings emerged from interviews with a panel of thought leaders. RESULTS: Our results show that there will be simultaneous and coupled evolution of telehealth through the space spanned by three axes: care models, clinical applications, and technology. We also consider a two-dimensional model of reach and complexity to describe future applications. Universal access to advanced networks will drive fundamental changes in healthcare deliver. The biggest change will be seen in home and mobile health care delivery, forming part of a trend toward patient-centric models. Other aspects of decentralization in healthcare systems will include networks of caregivers. Besides this reach trend, the complexity trend will include integrating multiple-channel applications and seamlessly moving large datasets in real time among hospitals, other medical facilities, and homes. There is a need to provide infrastructure that does not have an upper limit on quality of service and allows telehealth to address mobility, usability, interoperability, intelligence, and adaptability in a systematic way.