Etähoidon

Etähoito, or remote care, refers to the delivery of health care, consultation, and patient management at a distance through information and communication technologies. It includes various modalities designed to support diagnosis, treatment, monitoring, and education without requiring the patient to be physically present in a health care facility.

Modalities include synchronous video or telephone consultations, asynchronous secure messaging, mobile apps for symptom tracking, and remote monitoring of vital signs and devices (for example glucose meters, blood pressure cuffs, oximeters). It also covers remote wound assessment, tele-rehabilitation, and virtual care coordination.

Applications are wide, with chronic disease management (such as diabetes, hypertension, cardiovascular disease), post-discharge follow-up, elder and home care, mental health services, and rehabilitation. Remote monitoring can enable earlier detection of deterioration and facilitate timely interventions.

Benefits include increased access, convenience for patients in rural or underserved areas, potential reductions in travel and waiting times, and cost savings for health systems. However, challenges include ensuring data privacy and cybersecurity, maintaining clinical safety without physical examination, digital literacy and access, and interoperability between systems and providers.

Implementation requires secure, compliant platforms, consent and privacy protections, standardized workflows, and appropriate reimbursement policies. Evidence on effectiveness varies by setting and modality; ongoing evaluation of outcomes, patient experiences, and cost-effectiveness is essential. National and professional guidelines influence the adoption of etähoito.