International SOS, the medical and travel security company, reports that it’s the first to be certified for the delivery of telehealth services in accordance with the International Organization for Standardisation’s newly published guidelines, awarded by the British Standards Institution (BSI).
This covers the technical aspects of service delivery such as interoperability and security of data transfer, plus a wider scope including a quality standard for telehealth services that use information and communications technologies to deliver healthcare over long and short distances.
International SOS points to a growing globalised workforce (set to increase according to audit firm PwC) that will mean more organisations will be using telehealth services to care for their employees. The contract firm see a gap in telehealth services particularly around geographical restrictions and knowledge in international settings where services can lack the broader expertise required, such as:
· A license to consult or prescribe
· Understanding local product/drug names; and
· Knowing the capability of the local healthcare system.
