Why is the Standardization of Telehealth Services Important in the Context of Digital Health Strategies, Especially During the Covid-19 Epidemic?

Abstract

In order to ensure that the quality of telehealth services is adequate, the use of standards is indispensable. Telehealth offers remote monitoring and embraces those aspects of telemedicine where communication takes place directly with patients. Both come within the broader frame of reference that is offered by the term digital health. However, there are relatively few standards for services in the field of digital health. This means that standardization institutions and user associations should work together in the development of appropriate standards. Those standards that do exist are of variable quality and only sometimes utilized. However, in a context of rapid changes in technologies and service configurations, they will carry increasing importance within health strategies and practice frameworks; and will be in need of greater enforcement. In this paper, we will emphasise the importance of standards for remote health support and medical treatment. We will offer some examples of standards relating to digital health in European and internationally. We offer definitions for remote health service provision that relate, in particular, to the needs of older people; and set out some of the benefits of standardization of telehealth and telemedicine services within eHealth strategies.