Wireless Sensor Network Applications in Urban Telehealth

Advances in wireless sensor network management have potential applications in urban telehealth. Telehealth is the delivery of health related services and information via telecommunications technologies. Previous efforts on telemedicine management have focused on medical care for rural populations, however urban communities will benefit significantly from advances in wireless network design and management. Within the domain of occupational and physical therapy, known as telerehabilitation, expected active benefits to urban communities include greater adherence to rehabilitation protocol due to ease of use and removal of the travel requirement for multiple weekly trips to clinical site and clinical appointments. Additionally, passive benefits are envisioned to include monitoring of the environment, such as balconies, interior and hallway spaces for detection of road and urban pollutants, including cigarette, exhaust, and cleaning products. The integration of active and passive sensing would provide a more complete picture of the therapy client´s living environment and the therapy practice within that environment. This information can be provided by the proposed wireless sensor network application.