Introduction: Potential for direct patient care through remote exchange of health-related information has expanded enormously with the proliferation of technologies leveraging ubiquitous connectivity, but implementation of connected care has been slow and controversial.
Materials and methods: This review demonstrates that controversy regarding connected care arises largely from the fact that proponents and critics are generally considering distinctly different care models. Differences are highlighted to mitigate controversy and to distinguish capacities of these different models.
Results: Distinguishing capacities is essential for establishing the evidence base supporting safety, effectiveness, and efficiency. In care of a particular patient's problem, value is achieved when resources allocated meet requirements for diagnosis and intervention but do not exceed them. Robust evidence supports the value of some well-defined connected care models, exemplified by the Health-e-Access Telemedicine Model.
Conclusions: The pursuit of value in connected care is fundamentally the same as with in-person care. Provider organizations, legislators, regulators, and payers face not only a complex task in defining standards and enabling appropriate use, but also a heavy burden of responsibility for unleashing connected care that will benefit the entire community.
Keywords: e-health; legal/legislation; mobile health; telehealth; telemedicine.