Recommendations from the First National Academic Consortium of Telehealth

In January 2015, the US Secretary of Health and Human Services announced targets for the transformation of Medicare reimbursement from a fee-for-service model to payments based on alternative payment models. People now use technology for virtually everything - from paying bills to purchasing almost anything; it is therefore natural to think that they will use technology to take ownership of their own health care. The remote provision of health care, where providers and patients are not in the same location, will allow patients to receive the right care, at the right time, at the right place, and in the manner they consider right for them. To date, much of the technological advances in medicine have been led by the technology creators rather than providers or patients. A meeting of leaders from academic medical centers was convened to brainstorm and explore new opportunities to educate the workforce, expand the science, and improve the delivery of quality care to patients through the use of telemedicine. The academic community needs to develop an evidence base that can inform new care delivery models, including the role for remote monitoring and wearable technology, as well as the methods by which the best patient-centered care can be provided. It is important that the future of medicine be determined by solid research and education rather than the latest "cool toy" to reach the market. Academic medical centers are in a unique position to help shape this future direction, collaborating to create innovative and efficient solutions for patient care. Specific calls for action are summarized.