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What is Tele-education? Before discussing about what Tele-education means, lets look at what distance learning is. This is because Tele-education and distance learning are very related to each other. Distance learning is the acquisition of skills and knowledge through electronic communications that allow student and instructor to be separate in either in time or space. The to distance learning is asynchronous learning, which can be defined loosely as learning at different time. It is a highly flexible method of training because the sender and receiver do not need to be synchronized in space or time. But Tele-education is more than that of distance learning. In Tele-education, not only asynchronous but synchronous learning is also made possible. In other words, Tele-education is the evolution of distance learning.

1.1 Background of Tele-education

Tele-education has a long history beginning with systems like that for teaching children in Australian Outback, the British Open University and other such organizations. These built on the idea of correspondence courses where course materials are sent periodically by post and augmented the experience with broadcasts either on radio or on TV. The problem of student isolation was addressed partially through techniques such as telephone access or two-way radio links with teachers. At the end of 1980s, the vest majority of distance education throughout the worlds was still primarily print-based. Technologies used for distance education are evolving from primarily ¡¥one-way¡¦ technologies and applications such as computer aided learning, computer based training and computer aided instruction, to more ¡¥two-way¡¦ technologies and applications such as computer mediated communications and computer conferencing systems for education. The significance of ¡¥two-way¡¦ technologies is that they allow foe interaction between participant and tutors, and perhaps even more significantly amongst participant themselves. This development has allowed and in some senses force researches to look more closely at the impact of educational environment, on the students learning experience. In the future, it is expected that the telecommunications-based technologies to become the primary means of delivery of distance teaching.

1.2 The Emergence of Tele-education

Radical changes in the computing infrastructure, spurred by multimedia computing and communication, will do more than extend the educational system, that is revolutionize it. Technological advances will make classrooms mush more accessible and effective. Today, classroom education dominates instruction from elementary school to graduate school. This method has remained popular for a very long time and will probably persist as the most common mode of education. However, classroom education has its problems, that is the effectiveness decline with increase in the number of students per class. Other pressures affect the instructors, many of whom are not experts in the material they must teach, are not good ¡¥performers¡¦ in class, or simply are not interested in teaching. The biggest limitation of the classroom instruction is that a class meets at a particular time in a particular place. This essentially requires all students and the instructors to collect in one spot for their specified period. But with the emerging technology, these problems can be overcome.

1.3 Reasons for studying Tele-education

The current Tele-education systems that have been applied in some countries are generally of multipoint transmission technique. It is found that, this kind of transmission technique having several problems or defects. Mostly, problems raised during the application of the system. One of the significant problems raised is that, for the multipoint transmission, the signals or information transmitted by the sender do not completely received by the receiver. This problem is might be due to error that occurs during the transmission of the signals or information. Another problem is lag of transmission. For this case, the signals or information transmitted do not arrive at all the receiver at the same time, for example, the question raised by the lecturer might not received by the students at the same time and this is not a good environment for Tele-education system. Some receiver receives the signals earlier than the others and some later or even not receives at all. Therefore, it is important to study the Tele-education technology from time to time to overcome these problems so that the Tele-education system could provide a more effective way of learning environment.

Source: https://educheer.com/research-papers/tele-education/

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Telemedicine is a new direction in medicine. Interactive telemedicine: effects on professional practice and health care outcomes.

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Telemedicine is a new direction in medicine. Interactive telemedicine: effects on professional practice and health care outcomes.

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Background

Telemedicine uses telecommunication systems to deliver health care at a distance. This method of delivering health care may improve patient health outcomes, access to health care and reduce costs. It is important to understand the impact that care at a distance via telemedicine might have on patients, healthcare professionals and the organisation of care.

Review question

We assessed the effectiveness, acceptability, and costs of interactive telemedicine, delivered in addition to, or as an alternative to, usual care as compared to usual care alone.

Study characteristics

Researchers in The Cochrane Collaboration searched the literature up to June 2013 and found 93 eligible randomised controlled trials (N = 22,047 participants). The studies recruited participants with a number of clinical conditions: cardiovascular disease (36 studies), diabetes (21 studies), respiratory conditions (nine studies), mental health problems or substance abuse (seven studies), conditions requiring a specialist consultation (six studies), complex co morbidities (three studies), urogenital conditions (three studies), neurological injuries and conditions (two studies), gastrointestinal conditions (two studies), neonatal conditions requiring specialist care (two studies), patients recovering after solid organ transplantation (one study) and cancer (one study).

Telemedicine provided remote monitoring (55 studies), or real‐time video‐conferencing (38 studies), which was used either alone or in combination. The main telemedicine function varied depending on clinical condition, but fell typically into one of the following six categories, with some overlap:
i) monitoring of a chronic condition to detect early signs of deterioration and prompt treatment and advice;
ii) provision of treatment or rehabilitation, for example stroke rehabilitation;
iii) education and advice for self‐management;
iv) specialist consultations;
v) real‐time assessment of clinical status, for example post‐operative assessment after minor operation
vi); screening for depression or angina.

Key results

We found no difference in mortality between participants with heart failure receiving care through telemedicine, compared to those receiving health care without telemedicine. The results of the studies differed for admissions to hospital, from a relative decrease of 64% to an increase of 60%. Disease‐specific quality of life was slightly improved for heart failure participants receiving telemedicine as compared to those receiving usual care only.

We found that telemedicine may improve glucose control in people with diabetes (mean difference (MD) 0.30 percentage points), but that the effect varied across studies: from a MD of ‐0.72 to 0.20 percentage points at a median nine months follow‐up. We found some evidence for a decrease in LDL cholesterol, which is considered the 'bad' cholesterol, in participants allocated to telemedicine as compared to those allocated to usual care (MD ‐12.45 mg/dL). We also found a greater decrease in blood pressure in those allocated to telemedicine compared to those that were allocated to usual care.

Seven studies that recruited participants with different mental health and substance abuse problems reported no differences in the effect of therapy delivered over video‐conferencing, as compared to face‐to‐face delivery. Findings from the other studies varied; there was some evidence that monitoring via telemedicine improved blood pressure control in participants with hypertension, and a few studies reported improvement for those with a respiratory condition. Studies recruiting participants requiring specialist consultation for a dermatological condition reported no differences between groups.

Authors' conclusions

Telemedicine (TM) has the potential to be an effective tool for delivering more frequent and timely health care to people with chronic conditions at a distance, and for improving access to health care.

Source: https://www.cochranelibrary.com/cdsr/doi/10.1002/14651858.CD002098.pub2/full?highlightAbstract=telemedicine%7Ctelemedicin

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The development of telemedicine in the world.

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The development of telemedicine in the world.

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The clinical progression of telemedicine from the early 2000's to present.

By Robert Longyear

Setting the Stage: Digital Health, Telemedicine, and Virtual Care.

It all started in the early 2000s when internet and internet use started to grow exponentially. In 2007, the iPhone emerged. After that, the ability of the global population to access products and services via the internet through mobile networks fundamentally changed our society, our culture, and the market for healthcare services.

Since the early 2000s, the use of the internet and the advent of smartphones have ushered in a new world that has been rapidly evolving over the past 15 years.

Early Telemedicine

Telemedicine began with the concept that a physician could deliver consultations with a patient via audio-only telephone or audio-visual communications tools over the internet. Naturally, the primary benefit of this is improved access to and experience of care. In rural areas, telemedicine allows specialists and primary care teams to provide access to patients who lack geographic proximity to a brick-and-mortar clinic.

The primary criticisms of telemedicine are based on the scope of practice. There truly are certain diagnoses, procedures, and patients that benefit from in-person services. Conversely, there are some conditions and patients where telemedicine is inappropriate or even dangerous. Advocates of telemedicine, or the broader term telehealth, are often too enthusiastic about the ability of telemedicine to “take over the world.” Teladoc and Amwell, in their original business models, took care of mostly sinus infections, rashes, and other low severity, acute needs that have a simple diagnosis and mostly require a straightforward prescription. Simply put, patients cannot receive a lumbar puncture via telemedicine, and conditions like diabetes require long-term care and monitoring from the same physician.

Covid-19 Impact on Telehealth-First Businesses

Traditional telemedicine companies like Teladoc have made moves in the past two years to shift business from low-severity, acute needs to chronic care. Teladoc’s acquisition of Livongo (i.e., Livongo has a virtual program for hypertension and diabetes) is a clear illustration of this strategy. During early Covid-19, practices shut down and patients with diabetes, heart disease, hypertension, cancers, and other conditions were forced to either receive no care or access care via telemedicine technologies. Teladoc was wagering on this trend both accelerating and maintaining in the decade ahead—you can tell they thought this based on their massive Livongo valuation that far outpaced Livongo’s revenue. Covid-19, to many, was a boom and bust event for telemedicine, telehealth, and virtual care businesses. But was it?

There was a boom-bust-bubble-like feel to Covid-19’s impact on telemedicine companies, but it has set the stage for significant growth over the next decade.

A few key thoughts:

1. Patients who never otherwise would have accessed telemedicine services were introduced—thus, accelerating the potential market size over the next 10 years.

2. Millennials and Gen Z-ers are very comfortable with telemedicine and Covid-19 allowed them to access it in a wide variety of ways for a variety of conditions. As they age, they will acquire chronic conditions. They will expect virtual experiences of care.

3. Mental health impacts from Covid-19 and the poor distribution of practitioners lend themselves well to the boom of virtual mental health companies. This market will continue to grow and models that work will win.

4. Telehealth has wide-bipartisan support in congress and every single house member and senator is aware of it now, due to Covid-19.

5. Medicare has already indicated a state of permanence of telehealth services.

6. Commercial payors, who are traditionally skeptical, have attained a new level of comfort with telehealth network providers.

7. Mail-order and delivery pharmacies have accelerated the complimentary good of telehealth because “why not do everything virtually?”

But, the most important impact of Covid-19 on our telemedicine-first providers is a new competition.

The pandemic forced every brick-and-mortar health system and single provider practice to implement their telehealth plans early. Physicians were forced to take visits virtually despite years of resistance. At this point, nearly every patient’s physician was offering some form of virtual appointment.

Telemedicine meets Remote-Patient Monitoring (RPM)

When Teladoc acquired Livongo, it was like that whole Mayan Calendar 2012 prophecy (remember that?). The RPM crowd has been talking about the use of IoT devices to monitor patients in the home for both acute and chronic conditions for about a decade and a half. Naturally, they saw a future where telemedicine companies could shift their care models to chronic care via the use of connected devices. But, it was not until 2018-2019 that Medicare began paying for remote-physiological monitoring services—thus creating a billion-dollar market overnight.

With this in mind, Teladoc finally fulfilled the prophecy, but, like the doomsday that never came in 2012, it was not as rapid and revolutionary as foreseen. The issue, for Teladoc/Livongo, still resides in the impact that the brick-and-mortar clinics had on the market. Long-term clinical relationships matter for patient populations with the highest rates of chronic conditions, and specifically, the highest prevalence of hypertension and diabetes. Patients on Medicare and age 50+ have often been with the same practice for years and switching to a newfangled virtual primary care clinic was not in the cards when it is possible to receive the same services from your trusty Primary Care Associates, P.C.

During early Covid-19 and after record RPM investment, brick-and-mortar clinics were inundated by remote-patient monitoring technology companies looking to help them adopt the IoT approach to chronic care and take advantage of Medicare’s reimbursement. So, not only did Primary Care Associates, P.C. adopt an audio-visual telemedicine technology early in the pandemic, but they also started signing up for RPM platforms—just like Teladoc/Livongo.

It is important to note that RPM-based chronic care models are effective for a number of conditions when operated correctly and meaningfully (see this report from AHRQ. I am a firm believer that these care models will become the standard of care in 5 years or less as the evidence continues to mount (but, there are a lot of bad programs).

In the early stages of telemedicine, it was about improved access. Now, telemedicine has expanded to the concept of virtual care that can be more about enhanced care models that cannot be delivered via traditional episodic care approaches. Virta Health has successfully proved that its virtual care model can reverse type 2 diabetes. We have entered a new world that is no longer about telemedicine adoption and volume-driven care, but the development of new, intensive, technology-driven, longitudinal care models. As someone who operates an RPM program for diabetes, hypertension, and congestive heart failure, I see the positive impact the data and the program have on patients, providers, and the nurses operating the RPM program. Anecdotally, these things are great.

So, what will the future look like?

1. Teladoc and Amwell, and similar, have begun looking into how to become virtual primary care clinics complete with RPM for chronic conditions, mail-order labs, and audio-visual visits. They may open brick-and-mortar locations or co-located spaces in employer offices.

2. Teladoc and Amwell, and similar, have begun building and implementing enterprise software to allow them to be the telemedicine operating system for large health systems in terms of both technology and physician staffing—a key issue for hospitals (see my previous article). This is the key strategy as it leverages the decades of trust-building marketing performed by health systems and helps health systems maintain in-system referrals.

3. Teladoc and Amwell, and similar, will seek to target self-insured employers to offer services as a benefit at a lower cost than the typical ASO insurance network—these clinical models will look like #1.

4. Highly-technical virtual specialty care companies will segment the market and seek to drive better outcomes via structured evidence-based clinical models for specific patient populations or conditions. (See Folx Health, Tia, Virta Health, Parsley Health). These organizations will partner with brick-and-mortar health systems and offer stand-alone virtual services. Segmentation has heretofore not occurred in healthcare aside from physician specialty—it matters.

5. Academic medical centers will launch national, virtual centers of excellence relying on their national prestige (see Circle Health and UCSF) to attract patients. They will either partner or build it themselves—partnering has dominated the field thus far.

6. Most brick-and-mortar primary care clinics will adopt RPM-based care models after specialty societies declare them as the standard of care.

7. Labs, procedures, and care that requires “the laying of the hands” will continue to be offered in-person—blood draws really cannot be done at home. Thus, this single point of advantage will favor the brick-and-mortar clinics especially as they adopt the same technologies as the virtual-care first companies. Many labs will become mail-order—especially as we enter the coming genetic testing revolution (cheek swab or saliva). Stand-alone, virtual first companies, aside from the cases above, will need a B2B2C strategy in place.

These are a few of the current trends in the market to expect in the coming decade. The acceleration of internet technology and smartphones has opened a new world in which we can reimagine the delivery of healthcare. Improved access, more personalized care, better experiences, and enhanced outcomes can be expected from many of these models. However, there will be cases in which the size of the market leads to bad behavior—see Cerebral. Congress has indicated a willingness to reduce some of the barriers to these care models and a wide, bi-partisan acceptance of telehealth.

Despite all the advances, it is important to remember that too much healthcare can often be as detrimental as not enough. It is all about delivering the right care, to the right patient, at the right time, but more importantly, the best healthcare is prevention—improving diet, exercise, and other lifestyle factors.

Source: https://longyearhealth.substack.com/p/the-evolution-of-telemedicine

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The purpose of conducting and participating in the teleconference.

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The purpose of conducting and participating in the teleconference.

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What is teleconferencing?

A teleconference is a live audio or audiovisual meeting with two or more participants. With the ability to teleconference, remote teams in an organization can collaborate and communicate, even when geographically dispersed. The process involves technology more sophisticated than a simple two-way phone connection.

At its simplest, a teleconference can be an interactive audio conference with people at two or more locations communicating over a speakerphone. With more equipment and special arrangements, a teleconference also can be a video conference, in which the participants can see each other.

Telecommunication systems support teleconferences by providing audio, video and data services. Participants communicate with teleconference platforms using devices such as desktop computers, tablets, smartphones and laptops. Teleconferences were initially conducted through telephone lines and were limited to audio; however, now it is more common for teleconferences to be conducted online or using voice over IP (VoIP).

How does teleconferencing work?

Teleconferencing works differently depending on the type of teleconference used:

In audio teleconferencing, participants dial a designated phone number to connect to a call that is conducted over telephone lines or the internet. VoIP is a key component of internet audio conferences. An organization can choose to have its own bridge or have a telephone service provider host conference calls.

Video conferences use VoIP for real-time communication over the internet. Participants can join using a combination of video, audio and audiovisual options. Users also can join and participate in video calls using their phones, tablets, laptops or PCs.

Because web teleconferencing is an umbrella term, it works similar to other forms of internet-based conference systems. Users can communicate using video, audio and instant messaging. Most web conferencing platforms also have features designed for file sharing and screen sharing.

Advantages and disadvantages of teleconferencing

Potential advantages of teleconferencing include the following:

Is cost-effective. Teleconferencing saves remote employees the cost of transportation.

Enables users to communicate over long distances. Teams can be geographically dispersed and still hold meetings.

Offers flexibility. Employees can attend a teleconference call from almost any device from any location.

Helps users collaborate. Group chat functions can enable users to further communicate and collaborate on projects while remote.

Enables users to keep records. Attendees can record calls for reference or for other employees who cannot make it to a meeting.

Offers scheduling. Scheduling and calendar tools can simplify setting up meetings.

Provides security. Participant access codes can help ensure unauthorized users do not join meetings.

There are some downsides that come with teleconferencing, however. Two important factors include the following:

Impersonal. A teleconference call can be impersonal, even with video, as it lacks real, in-person interactions.

Difficult to monitor. Calls with a large number of attendees are difficult to manage. This includes making sure attendees are present and attentive.

History of teleconferencing

In 1956, Bell Labs became the first organization to develop the concept of telephone conferencing. And in 1964, AT&T exhibited the Picturephone at the New York World's Fair. Users could speak to and see others using a black-and-white screen that managed video and audio using three phone lines. But it took until the 1990s for AT&T to release a more commercially viable version. In 1973, David Brown developed the first chat software for the Plato Notes computer conferencing system.

In 1989, a developer named Brian C. Wiles created RASCAL, which is short for Remote Audio Sound Card Application Link. RASCAL was the first application to send voice over Ethernet networks, or VoIP. In 1991, WebEx Systems developed a higher quality sound and video system capable of being carried over broadband. One year later, AT&T released a commercially viable teleconferencing system.

It took until the 2000s for video teleconferencing to become more widely used. Web conferencing products started being used more frequently for business meetings as well. In 2004, Citrix released GoToMeeting as its first web conferencing product. In 2012, Zoom was released, and Microsoft Teams followed in 2017. During the COVID-19 pandemic, video teleconferencing apps such as these saw a large rise in users, as webinars and group meetings became more normalized -- enabling more workers to do their jobs remotely.

Future of teleconferencing

Organizations saw an increase in the use of teleconferencing applications in 2020 and 2021, as employees began working from home more due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Teleconferencing apps enabled teams to stay in touch with each other and remain productive. With a workplace structure steadily leaning toward and becoming more accepting of remote work, it is likely that teleconferencing tools will continue to be used for the foreseeable future.

Some examples of recent and potential advancements in teleconferencing include the following:

Artificial intelligence and machine learning to automate subtitles for audio.

Machine learning and improved algorithms to create better noise isolation. This enables a user to block out background noise so their voice is more distinguishable.

As computational photography improves, the simulation of a shallow depth of field will also likely improve. This is a useful feature for isolating foregrounds and backgrounds. Depth of field refers to the distance between the closest and the farthest objects in focus in an image. Shallow depths of field typically create an esthetic blur effect in the out-of-focus parts of an image. It can be controlled with lenses on an SLR (single-lens reflex), DSLR (digital single-lens reflex) and mirrorless cameras. However, the aperture, which controls the depth of field in a camera or laptop device, is fixed, meaning mobile devices have to simulate the effect. Software like Microsoft Teams or FaceTime can simulate shallow depths of field; however, it is not currently at the same level as a traditional camera.

As 5G usage grows, and more infrastructure is developed, the speed, quality and bandwidth of audio and video call quality will improve.

Source:
https://www.techtarget.com/searchunifiedcommunications/definition/teleconference

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Mobile telemedicine complexes. 7 Telemedicine Concerns and How to Overcome Them

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Mobile telemedicine complexes. 7 Telemedicine Concerns and How to Overcome Them

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By Rahul Varshneya on October 11, 2018

Telemedicine is growing with a forecasted market increase of 16.8 percent from 2017 to 2023. It is already used by more than 50 percent of hospitals in the United States and close to 1 million Americans, thanks to its cost efficiencies and easy access to healthcare services.

While there are many benefits to telemedicine, they don't all come without valid concerns. The great news is that you can overcome these concerns by having a plan. Here are seven telemedicine concerns to take into account and effective strategies for overcoming them.

1. Reimbursement

Getting reimbursed for telemedicine services can prove problematic for physicians and other healthcare providers. Medicare, for example, offers telemedicine reimbursement coverage, but with limitations.

Reimbursement is possible for services covered under the Medicare Chronic Management Program, such as services for patients who have at least two or more chronic health conditions. These conditions must persist at least one or more years or until death to be considered for reimbursement claims.

However, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) is proposing coverage for 2019 and beyond, including prolonged preventative services and virtual check-ins. Moreover, telemedicine services are not always covered by private insurance companies.

To overcome reimbursement obstacles, it helps to have a reimbursement plan that includes using technology to track expenses for reimbursement claims. You can employ a platform that keeps track of these expenses so you can properly document receipts required by payers, while keeping up to date on insurers’ allowable reimbursements.

2. Lack of Integration

If your Electronic Health Records (EHR) system doesn't coordinate with the platform you're using to provide telemedicine services, you likely will complicate your workflow records.

By using a platform that integrates with your EHR, you can record your established workflow and ensure your patients’ e-visits are properly documented and updated for future visits.

3. Lack of Sufficient Data for Care Continuity

A lack of platform integration can also interrupt continuity of care. If a patient receives telemedicine from one service provider, but chooses another provider for his next e-visit, then the second physician may not have all the information she needs to diagnose the patient’s problem. The best solution is to inquire where your patient previously received telemedicine services, including those created at hospitals and providers with other medical facilities.

4. Service Awareness

If your patients aren't aware of your telemedicine services, then the service won't get used. With approximately 96 percent of large employers planning to offer telemedicine services to their employees, it's a missed opportunity if your patients aren't aware that you're offering these services.

That's why it's important to plan your launch via content marketing and social media marketing to get the word out. Email newsletters, social media, via email newsletters, social media platforms and your blog, if your practice includes one.

5. Patients’ Lack of Technical Skills

When patients don't understand how to use telemedicine services, it can reduce utilization and hamper accessibility. It’s a good idea to survey patients before launching your telemedicine services, and asking which devices they would be most comfortable using when accessing your telemedicine services.

It’s equally important to train your staff on using your telemedicine equipment, so they also can help patients who require assistance.

6. Expensive Technology

When you add up the cost of equipment and the cost of services to provide care, telemedicine expenses can be a concern to physicians, hospitals and medical practices. You may be able to reduce expenses by opting for bundled services or those that offer a flat fee, while keeping in mind that as the use of telemedicine continues to grow, technology expenses and service costs will continue to go down.

Telemedicine services also are helping patients cut down on their costs for in-person visits and ER visits, the latter potentially saving  25 percent on the cost of ER staff.

7. Privacy Concerns

Telemedicine services can be convenient, but they can also provide a gateway to security and privacy issues, while accessing patient data over the Internet.

HIPAA’s privacy and security rules require that the information gathered through a telemedicine service is encrypted, and you’re network connections. Additionally, when contacting patients, you have to be sure you are messaging them across a secure connection. Before you record and store video calls, you need to get the permission of your patients.

Source: https://telemedicine.arizona.edu/blog/7-telemedicine-concerns-and-how-overcome-them

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Types of teleconferences and server. Participation in online and offline teleconferences. 

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Types of teleconferences and server. Participation in online and offline teleconferences. 

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Types of teleconferencing

Teams in an organization have the option to conduct teleconferencing through multiple means, including the following:

Audio teleconferencing. These voice-only calls are conducted similar to normal telephone calls but can support up to 100 participants.

Video teleconferencing. This form of teleconferencing combines live visual and audio mediums. Depending on the vendor, video conferencing can support over 100 participants. Users in the meeting can use features such as screen sharing or file sharing.

Web teleconferencing. A web teleconference is an umbrella term that describes teleconference services or mediums provided online, which includes web meetings, webinars and webcasts. A video conference is, therefore, a type of teleconference.

Advantages and disadvantages of teleconferencing

Potential advantages of teleconferencing include the following:

Is cost-effective. Teleconferencing saves remote employees the cost of transportation.

Enables users to communicate over long distances. Teams can be geographically dispersed and still hold meetings.

Offers flexibility. Employees can attend a teleconference call from almost any device from any location.

Helps users collaborate. Group chat functions can enable users to further communicate and collaborate on projects while remote.

Enables users to keep records. Attendees can record calls for reference or for other employees who cannot make it to a meeting.

Offers scheduling. Scheduling and calendar tools can simplify setting up meetings.

Provides security. Participant access codes can help ensure unauthorized users do not join meetings.

There are some downsides that come with teleconferencing, however. Two important factors include the following:

Impersonal. A teleconference call can be impersonal, even with video, as it lacks real, in-person interactions.

Difficult to monitor. Calls with a large number of attendees are difficult to manage. This includes making sure attendees are present and attentive.

Running an effective teleconference

To run an effective teleconference, the host should first understand how the system they are using works. This includes familiarizing themselves with features that may aid their conference, such as messaging and chat or breakout rooms.This image shows the features offered in many teleconference systems.

Before hosting, the user should ensure they have a sufficient amount of bandwidth for the meeting. Documents, agendas and access numbers should be shared ahead of the meeting so that attendees know what the meeting is about, can securely access the meeting and be prepared when it starts. An access number could be a dial-in number or a PIN. Security codes ensure no one joins the meeting who is not supposed to be there. The host should also be mindful of their connection, potential noise distractions or other factors that can impede call quality, such as a lack of good lighting on a video call.

When the meeting occurs, the host may also have the option to record it. They can do this so that attendees can go back and review specific portions of the meeting, or to accommodate those who could not attend.

Some security best practices to follow while having a video conference include enforcing meeting starting times, locking the meeting when all participants are in it and using virtual backgrounds if an attendee's real background is distracting.

Source: https://www.techtarget.com/searchunifiedcommunications/definition/teleconference