Building an Architectural Component Model for a Telehealth Service

Alan Taylor; Greg Morris; Jennifer Tieman; David Currow; Michael Kidd; Colin Carati

doi:10.4236/etsn.2015.43004

Home > Journals > Computer Science & Communications > ETSN

E-Health Telecommunication Systems and N... > Vol.4 No.3, September 2015

Building an Architectural Component Model for a Telehealth Service ()

Alan Taylor, Greg Morris, Jennifer Tieman, David Currow, Michael Kidd, Colin Carati

Faculty of Medicine, Nursing and Health Sciences, Flinders University, Adelaide, Australia.

DOI: 10.4236/etsn.2015.43004 PDF HTML XML 4,445 Downloads 5,065 Views Citations

Abstract

Models of services, processes and technology are useful tools for conceptualizing complex systems such as healthcare. The application of a component architecture helps illustrate the processes and technologies that are important to the operation of a health service and conceptualize the relationships between each component. Telehealth services are relatively recent and have characteristics that do not fit neatly into established models of health services. This paper analyzes the components used to build a telehealth in the home service in South Australia and the design choices that were taken. The service used commodity-based devices and systems to deliver simple to use, low-cost in the home care. Building on this analysis, the components required in an architectural component model of a telehealth service are identified enabling a provisional architecture for telehealth services to be derived from an existing internationally recognized architectural model for eHealth systems. Situated within the broad family of eHealth architectures, a Telehealth Architectural Model of telehealth processes, software, devices, common systems and ICT infrastructure is proposed that represents the components required to support telehealth and allows for customization of services according to clinical models of care.

Keywords

Architectural Models, eHealth, Telehealth in the Home, Healthcare Processes, Infrastructure, Infostructure, Governance

Share and Cite:

Taylor, A. , Morris, G. , Tieman, J. , Currow, D. , Kidd, M. and Carati, C. (2015) Building an Architectural Component Model for a Telehealth Service. E-Health Telecommunication Systems and Networks, 4, 35-44. doi: 10.4236/etsn.2015.43004.

Conflicts of Interest

The authors declare no conflicts of interest.

References

[1]	Crotty, M., Killington, M., van den Berg, M., Morris, C., Taylor, A. and Carati, C. (2014) Telerehabilitation for Older People Using Off-the-Shelf Applications: Acceptability and Feasibility. Journal of Telemedicine and Telecare, 20, 370-376. http://dx.doi.org/10.1177/1357633X14552382
[2]	ISO/TR 14639-2 (2014) Health Informatics—Capacity-Based eHealth Architecture Roadmap—Part 2: Architectural Components and Maturity Model. International Standards Organisation, Geneva. http://www.iso.org/iso/catalogue_detail?csnumber=54903
[3]	NEHTA (2012) eHealth Architecture Principles. Version 1.0, National E-Health Transition Authority, Sydney. https://www.nehta.gov.au/implementation-resources/ehealth-foundations/interoperability-framework
[4]	Ionita, M., Hammer, D. and Obbink, H. (2002) Scenario-Based Software Architecture Evaluation Methods: An Overview. Workshop on Methods and Techniques for Software Architecture Review and Assessment at the International Conference on Software Engineering, Orlando, 19-24 2002, 2-12.
[5]	CareSearch, Palliative Care Knowledge Network. http://www.caresearch.com.au/Caresearch/Default.aspx
[6]	Frost & Sullivan Global Video Conferencing Technology Leadership Award White Paper. http://info.vidyo.com/WP-2013-Global-Video-Conferencing-Technology-Leadership-Award.html?ls=White%20Paper
[7]	Flinders University of South Australia. Telerehab. http://www.flinders.edu.au/mnhs/telehealth/resources/telehealth-rehab-exercises-trex.cfm
[8]	Flinders University of South Australia. Therapeutic Apps. http://www.flinders.edu.au/mnhs/telehealth/resources/therapeutic-apps.cfm
[9]	Apple Configurator. https://itunes.apple.com/au/app/apple-configurator/id434433123?mt=12
[10]	Meraki Systems Manager. https://meraki.cisco.com/products/systems-manager
[11]	Australian College of Rural and Remote Medicine. ACRRM Telehealth Guidelines. http://www.ehealth.acrrm.org.au/system/ files/private/ACRRM%20Telehealth%20Guidelines_v1.0_20120827.pdf
[12]	Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency. Guidelines for Technology Based Patient Consultations. http://www.medicalboard.gov.au/Codes-Guidelines-Policies.aspx
[13]	Royal Australian College of General Practitioners. Guidelines for Inter-Professional Collaboration between General Practitioners and Other Medical Specialists Providing Video Consultations. http://www.racgp.org.au/your-practice/guidelines/interprofessional/
[14]	South Australian Health. Guidelines for Sub-Acute Services Offering Digital Telehealth Network Consultations. http://www.sahealth.sa.gov.au/wps/wcm/connect/public+content/sa+health+internet/ health+reform/clinical+networks/rehabilitation+clinical+network
[15]	ISO/TS 13131 (2014) Health Informatics—Telehealth Services—Quality Planning Guidelines. International Standards Organisation, Geneva. http://www.iso.org/iso/home/store/catalogue_tc/catalogue_detail.htm?csnumber=53052
[16]	Taylor, A. (2015) Applying International Guidelines for Telehealth Services—A Case Study. Proceedings of the 8th Australasian Workshop on Health Informatics and Knowledge Management, Sydney, 27-30 January 2015, 87-95.