Innovation of Community-Based Integrated
Care: The History and Current Status
of Telenursing in Japan
Takayasu Kawaguchi and Keiko Toyomasu
Abstract This chapter defines telenursing as follows: “Telenursing is a nursing
practice that uses information and communication technology. This technology is
used to understand and educate patients about their health.” The elements required to
develop a telenursing system are shown in a user-oriented telenursing application
based on the structure of personal health records. In recent years, numerous information application tools have been developed for smartphones and incorporated into
daily life. The functions necessary for telenursing include information sharing, the
structure of medical care, and patients (Doctor to Patient with Nurse [D to P with
N]). Telenursing could extend the lifespan through not only the optimization of
operations but also interprofessional information sharing and early detection and
treatment. Further, telenursing could lead to the reduction in medical expenses while
simultaneously providing peace of mind and comfort to people in all situations in
hospitals and communities.
Consequently, this chapter is an attempt to identify necessary elements and
challenges of a telenursing system primarily from the viewpoint of translational
health information sciences.
Keywords Telenursing · Telecare · Home care
1 The Definition of Telenursing
Telenursing can be defined as “nursing practice utilizing telecommunication (electronic/long distance communication)” (American Nurses Association: ANA,
Milholland, 1997) (Kumar & Snooks, 2011) or “providing nursing to subjects at
physically distant locations by connecting a home or hospital with a mobile terminal
using telecommunication techniques” (International Council of Nurses: ICN,
Milholland, 2000). Sharpe, a leader in telenursing research, provided the definition
T. Kawaguchi (*) · K. Toyomasu
Tokyo University of Information Sciences, Chiba, Japan
© Springer Nature Singapore Pte Ltd. 2021
H. Matsushita (ed.), Health Informatics, Translational Systems Sciences 24,
https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-15-3781-3_2
25
Care: The History and Current Status
of Telenursing in Japan
Takayasu Kawaguchi and Keiko Toyomasu
Abstract This chapter defines telenursing as follows: “Telenursing is a nursing
practice that uses information and communication technology. This technology is
used to understand and educate patients about their health.” The elements required to
develop a telenursing system are shown in a user-oriented telenursing application
based on the structure of personal health records. In recent years, numerous information application tools have been developed for smartphones and incorporated into
daily life. The functions necessary for telenursing include information sharing, the
structure of medical care, and patients (Doctor to Patient with Nurse [D to P with
N]). Telenursing could extend the lifespan through not only the optimization of
operations but also interprofessional information sharing and early detection and
treatment. Further, telenursing could lead to the reduction in medical expenses while
simultaneously providing peace of mind and comfort to people in all situations in
hospitals and communities.
Consequently, this chapter is an attempt to identify necessary elements and
challenges of a telenursing system primarily from the viewpoint of translational
health information sciences.
Keywords Telenursing · Telecare · Home care
1 The Definition of Telenursing
Telenursing can be defined as “nursing practice utilizing telecommunication (electronic/long distance communication)” (American Nurses Association: ANA,
Milholland, 1997) (Kumar & Snooks, 2011) or “providing nursing to subjects at
physically distant locations by connecting a home or hospital with a mobile terminal
using telecommunication techniques” (International Council of Nurses: ICN,
Milholland, 2000). Sharpe, a leader in telenursing research, provided the definition
T. Kawaguchi (*) · K. Toyomasu
Tokyo University of Information Sciences, Chiba, Japan
© Springer Nature Singapore Pte Ltd. 2021
H. Matsushita (ed.), Health Informatics, Translational Systems Sciences 24,
https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-15-3781-3_2
25