Canadian Health Information Management Association Practice Exam

Which of the following technologies is vital for telehealth services?

1. secure messaging

2. data warehousing

3. cloud computing

4. database management

The correct answer is: secure messaging

Secure messaging is critical for telehealth services as it facilitates the safe and efficient exchange of information between patients and healthcare providers. In a telehealth context, where physical meetings are limited or absent, secure messaging ensures that sensitive health information can be communicated in a manner that protects patient confidentiality and adheres to privacy regulations. This technology enables real-time communication, allows for the sharing of medical advice, and supports continuity of care by allowing both parties to exchange information at their convenience. Other technologies, while important in the broader context of healthcare data management, do not specifically address the immediate communication needs critical for telehealth services. Data warehousing, for example, is primarily focused on the storage and analysis of large sets of data rather than real-time communication. Cloud computing is beneficial for providing scalable resources and infrastructure but does not directly enable the secure exchange of messages between users. Database management deals more with the organization and storage of data, which is important but not as integral to the telehealth communication process as secure messaging.