title: Societal drivers in the applications of telehealth.
abstract: The application of telemedicine and e-health tools and the integration of these tools in healthcare is no longer a demonstration, pilot project, or idea. The changing landscape of humanity dictates that new solutions be implemented to address old problems. The landscape is changing with diminishing resources of fossil fuels, aging population, a shortage of skilled labor in healthcare (doctors, nurses, and allied health professionals), and emerging technologies for the personal space, culture, and consumer demand. All are key drivers in altering healthcare delivery, access, and education. The very foundation of medicine needs to change to meet these demands. Access using telehealth will widen and enable our ability to respond to public health issues. This paper addresses the many societal issues facing healthcare delivery and demonstrates how telehealth solutions are key components of the future of healthcare delivery across the globe.
authors.affiliation: Center for Surgical Innovation, Department of Surgery, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, Ohio 45267, USA. charles.doarn@uc.edu
authors.forename: Charles R
authors.initials: CR
authors.lastname: Doarn
authors.forename: Peter
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Yellowlees
authors.forename: Deborah A
authors.initials: DA
authors.lastname: Jeffries
authors.forename: Denny
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Lordan
authors.forename: Sally
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Davis
authors.forename: Glenn
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Hammack
authors.forename: Thelma
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: McClosky-Armstrong
authors.forename: Joseph
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Kvedar
mesh_terms: D000375:Aging; D003258:Consumer Behavior; D004467:Economics; D006280:Health Workforce; D054625:Healthcare Disparities; D006801:Humans; D012931:Social Environment; D012961:Sociology; D017216:Telemedicine / Q000458:organization & administration*; D014857:Warfare