Will we see data repositories for telehealth activity in the near future?

Policy-makers and researchers lament the absence of telehealth registries to enhance knowledge regarding outcomes and efficacy of telehealth interventions. A number of different organizations operate registries, but there do not appear to be any true telehealth registries. One reason is that federal requirements through such policies as the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) have led to heightened fear of inadvertently releasing confidential or unauthorized information. Also, it would be more efficient if patient data were captured electronically at the local level, ideally through electronic medical records (EMRs), and then transferred electronically to registries. However, the diffusion of EMRs at the local level is in its infancy. As a result, it is unlikely that we will see a comprehensive telehealth data repository within the next decade.