The role of human factors in telehealth.

The purpose of this article is to provide an overview of the field of human factors (HFs) and its role in telehealth. We discuss HF concepts and methodologies that affect the design, implementation, and evaluation of telehealth applications and provide examples from numerous application areas that highlight the significance of HF principles and methodologies. We also provide recommendations for inclusion of HFs in telehealth system design and evaluation, and discuss resulting implications for system designers, practitioners, vendors, and policy makers.

Caveat emptor: the need for evidence, regulation, and certification of home telehealth systems for the management of chronic conditions.

The home telehealth market is rapidly expanding. The technology and capabilities currently available have the potential to significantly affect the clinical management of an aging population, particularly, the large number with multiple coexisting disease processes. Potential benefits of home-monitoring systems for patients with heart failure range from decreased rates of mortality and improved quality of life to providing third party payers, including the federal government (ie, Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services), with significant long-term cost savings.