Abstract
Telehealthcare is personalised healthcare delivered over a distance; data are transferred from the patient to the professional, who then provides feedback
In patients with severe long term conditions, such as problematic asthma and diabetes, telehealthcare can reduce hospital admissions without increasing mortality
Potential pitfalls include user interface problems, technical problems, and safety concerns such as data loss and confidentiality
Telehealthcare can alter the doctor-patient relationship so try to humanise the interaction
Consider workflows, to minimise unintended disruptions to normal routines
Careful assessment of effectiveness, cost effectiveness, and safety considerations is needed before introduction
McLean S, Protti D, Sheikh A. Telehealthcare for long term conditions. BMJ. 2011;342:d120.
