The value of remote health has been increased immensely with the lack of readily available services and efficient sources. Telemedicine and Telehealth are remote healthcare facilities via web applications to administer healthcare needs instantly and overcome problems due to inefficient services. Telemedicine and Telehealth help users to make informed decisions.
Telemedicine vs Telehealth
The main difference between Telemedicine and Telehealth is that Telemedicine is a subset of Telehealth. It includes clinical services such as prescribing, diagnosis and report analyses of patients. On the other hand, Telehealth is a broader term. It refers to clinical and non-clinical services to educate and manage the health care system.
Telemedicine is the resource that simplifies how a patient approaches the necessary healthcare services. It involves advanced telecommunication technologies to provide accessible, cost-effective, and reliable solutions to patients who gain insights from experienced physicians in the comfort of their homes. Telemedicine is to get diagnosis and treatment from experienced physicians.
Telehealth is the tool that focuses on covering various elements of health care systems that may not necessarily be related to telemedicine. It portrays non-direct facilities like administrative services, remote monitoring of patients, and more. It uses telecommunications to provide health information services, medicare care, educating the patients, transportation, etc.
Comparison Table Between Telemedicine and Telehealth
| Parameters of Comparison | Telemedicine | Telehealth |
| Definition | Utilization of modern technologies for monitoring and treatment of patients. | It involves the delivery of health and health-related facilities. |
| Are the terms interchangeable? | Telemedicine is a subset of telehealth. | Telehealth is a broader term that focuses on healthcare and administrative services related to it. |
| Use | It is used in radiology and pathology labs. | It is used by gastroenterologists, neurologists, and pain management physicians. |
| Time Limit | Telemedicine services are less susceptible to time limits. The patients can address concerns freely. | Telehealth facilities may have a time lag that limits the number of questions to be asked. |
| Need | It is needed to increase the chances of improved long-term management, and availability of physicians everywhere. | It increases affordability, health care accessibility, and value. |
What is Telemedicine?
Telemedicine is a remote health care service. Technological advancements and healthcare improvement are essential to refine usability and cater to the overgrowing needs of the masses. It provides convenient, intelligent, and interactive facilities to improve the chances of receiving healthcare capabilities.
There are three types of Telemedicine services:
- Patient Monitoring: Uses mobile services to gather data on the patient for monitoring and provide remote caregivers.
- Professional Medicine: Provides communication skills to allow patients and physicians under HIPAA guidelines.
- Storing and Sharing: It allows the users to share information with a physician to various locations.
Telemedicine services are conducted in various ways. It involves a video call or a video conference call for faster and secure communication services. you can use various other computer and mobile-based applications to utilize the facilities in remote areas.
Telemedicine dates back to the 19th century. It started with telecommunications, vast networks, and infrastructure. It used the amalgamation of radio, telephonic and telegraph initiations.
It is a technological advancement service aimed to revolutionize the healthcare structure. Health care systems, skilled doctors, and nurses use telemedicine services to provide medical care abundantly. It aims to provide AI diagnosis, medical streaming tools, and assistance for improved treatment and diagnosis.
What is Telehealth?
Telehealth facilities aim to focus on healthcare-related services that may include sharing medical education, provider of training, administration management, and meetings aside from the clinical services.
There are multiple types of telehealth services:
- Synchronous: these interactions are real-time sessions between the providers and the patients. The information is recorded and shared clearly with the providers to gather necessary follow–up questions.
- Storage and Sharing of Data: Important data like images, texts, and videos are stored on a database and sent to providers or specialists.
- RPM: Remote Patient Monitoring allows the providers to examine the information shared by the patients. This data may include blood glucose levels, weight, blood pressure, etc.
Telehealth services allow you to seek professional help effectively. Telehealth services aim to enhance the patient’s chances of receiving refined communication from the providers and improving communications.
The costs of transportation of patients reduce, and patients can receive Emergency Department facilities earlier. It can cater to administering the shortage of physicians in the area and facilitate faster diagnostics, providing faster, adequate training and education.
It allows you to make better decisions through emotional and feasible support. It is a boon from the technological advancements and delivery services to regulate better patient outcomes.
Main Differences Between Telemedicine and Telehealth
- The scope of Telemedicine services is to provide access to patients from anywhere, anytime, especially in rural areas. On the other hand, Telehealth is a facility to reduce the pressure on the health care systems and enable better patient management.
- Some of the services offered by Telemedicine include tele-treatment, evaluations and diagnosis, video consultations, and medical imaging. Telehealth includes mental health counseling, wellness visits, Eye exams, and Nutrition counseling.
- Telemedicine is a service to improve the patients’ health and avoid future diseases. Telehealth is a collection of methods to refine patient service and providers’ training.
- Telemedicine includes direct interactions between the patient and physicians. Telehealth includes direct and indirect interactions.
- Telemedicine focuses on the patients and the active components involved in healthcare diagnosis. Telehealth focuses on factors additional to video consulting with physicians.
Conclusion
Telemedicine and Telehealth services are the future of healthcare facilities. It releases stress from the health care employees, physicians, and nurses. It also aims to provide cost-effective mechanisms to the people.
Some people may struggle to reach hospitals on time or find a specialized doctor for treatment. Modern communications technology is advancing to reach out to more people and overcome the barriers of location and advanced technology. The primary focus of the service is on rural areas.
Telemedicine and Telehealth are recognized by huge organizations and operational in various countries as an integral segment of society.
References
- https://books.google.com/books?hl=en&lr=&id=0GY5lZBY0J8C&oi=fnd&pg=PP11&dq=telemedicine+vs+telehealth&ots=NQ5xUhggNp&sig=_fc_vGt74pHAaFD9zMeCzaZqefE
- https://www.cambridge.org/core/journals/cambridge-quarterly-of-healthcare-ethics/article/ethical-challenges-of-telemedicine-and-telehealth/5D777B4EDE6E97934FB4B442F9CE0B33