What is the difference between Telehealth and Telemedicine?

In the present era, every technology, product and service is rapidly developing. Advancement in healthcare industry came with new breakthroughs in medicinal technology like Telehealth and Telemedicine. These both medicinal technologies are often used interchangeably when describing the use of remote medical devices or the diagnosis and treatment of patients remotely.  

Yet, away from allowable similarities, converging telemedicine and Telehealth is a formula for confusion down the road. There are no perfect definitions for telemedicine and Telehealth which makes it difficult to separate them completely from each other.

But what are they? Is there even a difference?

Define Telehealth

Telehealth is term characterized as the utilization of electronic data as well as telecommunication technologies to essentially give long-distance health support services that are either clinical or non-clinical, which incorporate virtual medicinal services, health organization, public health, patient and expert health-related training, among others. Basically, it refers to a loose definition of consumer-facing healthcare and health management solutions. It can be utilized for some things, for example, instructing the general population, preparing individuals for the medical profession or making remote analyses. These days, we have proficient remote correspondence advances to accomplish this goal and it incorporates choices, for example, streaming media, video conferencing, cell phones and the web. Telehealth has a more extensive approach and incorporates consumers and end-users in its audience.

About Telemedicine

Telemedicine refers to the provision of remote clinical services, via real-time two-way communication between the patient and healthcare provider, using electronic audio and visual means. It has been utilized to overcome distance obstructions and to enhance access to medical services that would regularly not be reliably accessible in distance rural communities. It enables healthcare suppliers to access, analyze and treat patients without the requirement for an in-person visit. Telemedicine includes utilizing modern innovation and media communications for specialists to visit their patients in a virtual way, more often than not finished live video or through still images captured and saved for the references on a PC.

Difference between telemedicine and Telehealth

First Point

Telehealth is based on computer-assisted telecommunication to offer support management, surveillance and access to medical knowledge.

Telemedicine solely uses telecommunications to diagnose and treat patients.

Second Point

Telehealth includes a wide range of services and technologies to provide patient care as well as to improve the delivery of healthcare system.

Telemedicine specifically revolves around remote clinical services, Telehealth, on the other hand, does not deal with clinical services. It also entails non-clinical services that include administrative meetings, provision of training and continuation of medical education.

Last Point

Telehealth’s monitoring and communication-based services are outstanding for empowering patients with the ability to take an independent and active role in monitoring treatments as well as managing chronic conditions.

Telemedicine’s web-based technologies provide healthcare practitioners with the abilities to outspread the effective range of their coverage.