Telehealth History
This invention in the 1870s first made distant voice communication possible
What is the telephone?
This device attaches to a phone or computer to transmit video.
What is a webcam?
Before a video telehealth visit, you should check this device’s charge or power level.
What is your phone, tablet, or laptop battery?
This type of artificial intelligence tool may soon help check symptoms online.
What is a chatbot or virtual health assistant?
Veterans can use My HealtheVet to send these secure messages to their care team.
What are Secure Messages?
In the 1950s, this form of telehealth was first tested by sending X-ray images between hospitals.
What is teleradiology?
Bluetooth-enabled devices worn by patients for health monitoring are examples of this.
What are wearables?
To prevent echo and background noise, use this accessory during a visit.
What are headphones or earbuds?
In the future, telehealth may increasingly use this technology for holographic or 3D visits.
What is virtual reality (VR) or augmented reality (AR)?
You can use My HealtheVet to track your upcoming _____________.
What are appointments?
The expansion of this technology in the 1990s made video telehealth visits widely possible.
What is the Internet?
This term means software that protects telehealth sessions from hackers.
What is encryption?
For best camera angle, position your device at this level.
What is eye level?
Providers may soon use this technology for more accurate remote heart and lung exams.
What are digital stethoscopes or connected examination tools?
National Secure Messaging Escalation Target Rate?
What is <3%
This worldwide event in 2020 caused telehealth adoption to surge.
What is the COVID-19 pandemic?
This is the federal term for internet-based healthcare using computers and smart devices.
What is telemedicine?
This can help a Veteran who is unfamiliar with video visits feel more confident.
What is a practice session or test call?
In the future, telehealth will focus on closing this gap to ensure all Veterans can participate.
What is the digital divide?
This VA website lets Veterans refill prescriptions and view their health records online.
What is My HealtheVet?
This branch of the military originally used satellite telemedicine to care for deployed personnel.
What is the U.S. Army?
This “cloud-based” service means telehealth records are stored in a remote online database rather than on a local device.
What is electronic health records (EHR) in the cloud?
If you miss your telehealth appointment, you should do this.
What is call the clinic or provider to reschedule?
Experts predict this area—coordinating between providers, caregivers, and patients—will be improved through telehealth innovation.
What is care coordination or integrated care?