What’s the Difference between “Telehealth” and “Telemedicine”?

Chances are you’ve heard of the terms “telemedicine” and “telehealth” at least once or twice in your life.

But what exactly do these terms mean? What is telemedicine and how is it different from telehealth? How do both of them impact the lives of patients and make a difference?

Let’s take a look:

What is Telehealth?

The term “telehealth” actually refers to a wide range of services that focus on providing healthcare to patients in remote areas, or to patients who are unable to visit hospitals.

This type of service includes a broad range of remote health services compared to telemedicine. It also includes providing training, administrative meetings, medical education, verbally advising patients etc.

It’s not necessary that the patient will be prescribed medicine by a doctor or healthcare professional. This type of service also includes mental health and therapy sessions.

The World Health Organization categorizes telehealth as a “surveillance, health promotion, and public health functions” service.

Telehealth also focuses on delivering health information, educating and training, both patients and professionals. It focuses on providing healthcare services to patients through digital platforms and the internet.

What is Telemedicine?

Telemedicine is similar to telehealth in some ways but it mainly focuses on providing medical aid and medicine to people in remote areas. This includes medical diagnostic, video conference with medical experts, medical imaging, treatment-related services, and even emergency care.

Examples of the Usage of Telemedicine and Telehealth

According to a survey conducted by the American medical Association, radiology has the highest use of telemedicine when it comes to treating patients.

After a report is generated over the internet, the leading physician goes through the report and diagnosis. After the analysis, a remote physician is notified of the patient and report, so they can communicate with the patient using video call, phone call, or any other digital method

According to Nursing2019, a leading journal, nursing telehealth is becoming popular because it helps “… guide patients to emergency department visits, clarify appropriate treatment options, educate about self-care at home, and assist with appointment scheduling.”

In Conclusion

There’s a significant difference between telehealth and telemedicine. The most distinguishable difference is that telehealth involves a wide range of services, whereas telemedicine is limited to medical treatments and diagnostics.

If you’re interested in learning more about telehealth and telemedicine, feel free to reach out to us. Drop a comment below or DM us.