Professor, grad students, explore telemedicine in article

An elderly patient with diabetes needs help with an insulin shot. He lives alone, in a rural community, about 20 miles from the nearest health care facility.

But he's in touch with health care professionals, thanks to a video phone that works on his telephone line. He calls his doctor, who also has a video phone, and they converse, face-to-face in real time.

"Telemedicine, also called telehealth, is the electronic delivery of health care. It includes the use of teleconferencing, video phones, electronic medical records, electronic stethoscopes, and cardiac monitoring," says Tom Miller, professor emeritus of allied health. "It gives access to health care to many people who would otherwise not have it."

Miller and four graduate students in allied health recently published an article on "Telehealth Home Health Applications for Adults with Developmental Disabilities," in Telemedicine and e-Health .

In the article, the students - an occupational therapist, a physical therapist, a physician assistant, and a dietician - describe how they could use telehealth technology in their areas of specialization.

There has been increased use of video phones in home health care delivery in the past few years, particularly in rural areas, says Miller.

Nurses use video phones for adherence and compliance purposes, observing patients taking their medications, he says.

"They don't have to go out to the patients' houses. It's as simple as the nurse saying, 'We'd like you to take your medication now, and we'll take you through these steps to make sure you're taking it properly.'"

The article, written by Miller and his four students, outlines some of the benefits of tele-medicine.

Developmentally disabled adults, including those with learning, motor skill, and communication disorders, often live with their families or in special residential communities.