Telemedicine is Here
Rachel Hofstad, 94, of Rochester, Minn…touches a screen to log in and is cued to slip on a blood pressure cuff and push a button. Her pressure and pulse readings are displayed. Next, she slides a forefinger into a sensor that measures blood oxygen. Then she checks her weight on a scale linked to the machine.
“The machine tells me I’m well,” she said. On the other hand, a pattern of “yes” replies to questions like “Are you coughing more than usual today?” will alert a nurse to contact her.
Full article on computerized health trackers at home.
Sounds great. Next step is for the computer to practice medicine without human intervention.
Ken, read it again. This computer is practicing medicine.
Once again, the future sneaks up on us.
Question: Is that nurse alert evidence based?
Computers have advanced so far in recent years and future potential is unimaginable. Now if only we could find a way to keep Wikileaks out of our databases.
Walmart needs to have this device in each store back near the pharmacy. I believe remote monitoring holds the promise to make access to medical care easier and more convenient — if not cheaper due to the lower overhead when an office and a waiting room are not needed.