Respiratory therapy, pulmonary rehabilitation (PR) in particular, available to those suffering from Chronic Respiratory Disease, is currently provided in outpatient facilities. At the facility, the patient is provided with appropriate training, as well as a much clearer understanding of, and the ability to cope with their lung disease. Pulmonary rehabilitation also provides personalized advice that sets the patient up with a life-long exercise routine. Additionally, if something were to go wrong - a ventilator malfunction for example - the patient would have ready access to a health care provider.

Because respiratory therapy equipment is not only used in hospitals and ambulances but also in homes, preventative and precautionary measures must be taken in order to ensure patient safety and comfort. Like any piece of technology, things can go wrong. Technological advancements are being made every day in order to help patients in need of immediate assistance. In fact, the development and integration of remote care telemedicine, to help those patients who live far from any health care facility, is underway.


Telemedicine, according to the American Telemedicine Association (ATA), is the "use of medical information exchanged from one site to another via electronic communications to improve patients' health status." The electronic communication being used is a telemonitoring system and most recently, a live feed between patient homes and health care facilities in the event of a malfunction. According to the ATA, "Closely associated with telemedicine is the term 'telehealth,' which is often used to encompass a broader definition of remote healthcare that does not always involve clinical services. Videoconferencing, transmission of still images, e-health including patient portals, remote monitoring of vital signs, continuing medical education and nursing call centers are all considered part of telemedicine and telehealth."




Remote care and telemedicine provide care in cases where a patient is miles away from a health care facility. In many instances, patients don't have a way of getting to the facility for immediate help. Instead of a nurse traveling the distance to help the patient when they are in need, telemedicine and remote care can enable the patient to get the help they need through the use of monitors and step-by-step direction. Telemedicine and telehealth allow health care providers to, on a daily basis, monitor the patient and make real-time decisions with regards to the care of their patient. Remote monitoring of ventilators, for instance, can lead to stable symptom management, improved healthy behaviors, and follow-through with treatments.

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