Chapter 5 - AI + telehealth: plugging into the digital ecosystem

Abstract

Chapter five analyzes how the AI transformation of telehealth with and in healthcare systems is accelerating the process of plugging them into the larger global digital ecosystem to drive outcome improvements (particularly in access, continuity, quality, and equity of care). It begins with an overview of the basic terms, concepts, and their relationships: Telehealth=eHealth+telemedicine. The chapter moves on to the COVID-catalyzed surge of telehealth usage and investments, while still detailing the disparities and developments in the related global telehealth infrastructure and regulations. This requires analysis of the below domains and telehealth's role within them: the global digital ecosystem, digital health ecosystem, digital health infrastructure, and blockchain. The chapter then moves on to how telehealth is being utilized to improve healthcare system performance including improving equities by reducing the digital divide with cloud-fog-edge computing, information technology architecture, and connectivity (both with nonterrestrial networks and adaptive connectivity management). The chapter places these technical trends in the larger strategic context of healthcare systems utilizing AI-enabled telehealth uses cases for value-based expansion of system borders, digitally extended system redesign, geospatial informed telehealth, and finally telehealth implications for patient safety.