Telehealth and Telenursing-Progression in Healthcare Practice

Now-a-days consumers in India are aware of e-health services forming a large market demand for online consultations with doctors. This helps the patients to remove the barriers of geographical distance and to receive the medical advice from experts from all over the world.

This paper signifies the case approach regarding telehealth and telenursing status and its need in Indian context.

Telenursing is the blend of telecommunications and nursing services whenever a substantial physical distance exists between nurses or between patient and nurses. Telehealth practice in India is taking place over a decade with the help of satellite communication. Four hundred telemedicine nodes are set up in India by Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO). Teleconsultation, tele-education and observation of diseases are the major areas covered by ISRO. Advances in health care information technology helps to solve the deficiencies in healthcare infrastructure and shortages in medical professionals.

The health care sector should leverage information technology to improve the quality of life, reduce human errors, reduce costs, increase response timings and to achieve patient-centric health care systems. The Indian government should also concentrate in establishing medical colleges, training institutes to offer required doctors, nurses and other paramedical professionals.