Article

Tablets enable telehealth translation services (Video)

Video conferencing enables in-office translation services through an ArmorActive iPad kiosk.

March 8, 2013 by Natalie Gagliordi — Editor of KioskMarketplace.com, Networld Media Group

With its broad implications for the health care industry, telehealth technology has become a bit of a buzzword.

In a recent report, IMS Research predicted that the worldwide market for telehealth services would grow by 55 percent in 2013, partly as a result of changes stemming from the Affordable Care Act. Looking further ahead, IMS predicted in a separate report that the number of U.S. residents using telehealth services would reach nearly 1.3 million by 2017, a nearly six-fold increase over 2012 numbers.

A basic example of telehealth is a patient consulting a doctor during a phone call, but in recent years it has come to represent much more. Video conferencing is the new norm for telehealth, especially with the emergence of new technologies — and tablet kiosk companies are taking notice of the opportunity.

Tablet kiosk manufacturer ArmorActive announced last month that its Evolve iPad enclosure and Gravity Flip Pro iPad kiosk table stand are now part of an interactive translator service used in doctors' offices by Linguistica International.

Nick Ames, CMO at ArmorActive, said iPad kiosks open a new realm of possibility for telehealth.

"We have engaged with customers in many different areas of the health care industry, but this is one of the first applications specifically with telehealth," Ames said. "Because this solution offers an extremely scaleable opportunity for Linguistica, we see the possibility growing into a very large deployment as the implementation is refined and more health care centers discover the advantages of using this solution."

Other examples of ArmorActive tablet kiosks used in the health care industry include deployments for EKG support, digital EMR/EHR management, rolling medical carts for nurse workstations, interactive process guides for medical device assembly, and protective solutions for Autism centers, Ames said.

Ames also noted the significant benefit realized by clients when deploying an iPad kiosk over a traditional-style kiosk, such as a savings of up to 400 percent in both upfront and recurring costs.

Watch the video below for a look at the telehealth translation service:

Read more about technology in health care.