Excellent comment by Mary Hawkins on the EHI article. There is a lack of evidence for most specific implementations of telehealth. This could be because, as Mary suggests, self-monitoring already happens without devices being directly linked to the EHR or health services - but with the patient or local carer doing the monitoring and calling the health services when needed.
Maybe the way to get "telehealth" working is not to look at buying and installing new kit -- but looking at the way that existing kit and information is being used, and seeing how services can be adapted to make better use of the existing information landscape. Helping patients to become "expert patients" and use the data and data processing tools that they have, and helping healthcare delivery services to be more proactive in finding and reaching out to those who will benefit from their attention, rather than waiting for patients to make appointments. This will accelerate improvements in health outcomes, and will result in a better definition of what useful telecare services might look like.
By Charlie McCay