title: Federal efforts to define and advance telehealth--a work in progress.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The integration of telecommunications and information systems in healthcare is not new or novel; indeed, it is the current practice of medicine and has been an integral part of medicine in remote locations for several decades. The U.S. Government has made a significant investment, measured in hundreds of millions of dollars, and therefore has a strong presence in the integration of telehealth/telemedicine in healthcare. However, the terminologies and definitions in the lexicon vary across agencies and departments of the U.S. Government. The objective of our survey was to identify and evaluate the definitions of telehealth/telemedicine across the U.S. Government to provide a better understanding of what each agency or department means when it uses these terms.
  
  
  METHODS
  The U.S. Government, under the leadership of the Health Resources and Services Administration in the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, established the Federal Telemedicine (FedTel) Working Group, through which all members responded to a survey on each agency or department's definition and use of terms associated with telehealth.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Twenty-six agencies represented by more than 100 individuals participating in the FedTel Working Group identified seven unique definitions of telehealth in current use across the U.S. Government. Although many definitions are similar, there are nuanced differences that reflect each organization's legislative intent and the population they serve. These definitions affect how telemedicine has been or is being applied across the healthcare landscape, reflecting the U.S. Government's widespread and influential role in healthcare access and service delivery. The evidence base suggests that a common nomenclature for defining telemedicine may benefit efforts to advance the use of this technology to address the changing nature of healthcare and new demands for services expected as a result of health reform.
authors: 1 NASA Headquarters , Washington, D.C.
authors: Charles R
authors: CR
authors: Doarn
authors: Sherilyn
authors: S
authors: Pruitt
authors: Jessica
authors: J
authors: Jacobs
authors: Yael
authors: Y
authors: Harris
authors: David M
authors: DM
authors: Bott
authors: William
authors: W
authors: Riley
authors: Christopher
authors: C
authors: Lamer
authors: Anthony L
authors: AL
authors: Oliver
mesh_terms: D018166:Health Care Reform / Q000458:organization & administration*; D006801:Humans; D033183:Interdisciplinary Communication; D009936:Organizational Innovation; D016730:Program Development; D015397:Program Evaluation; D013685:Telecommunications / Q000458:organization & administration*; D017216:Telemedicine / Q000458:organization & administration*; D014481:United States; D037041:United States Government Agencies / Q000458:organization & administration*