Telehealth vs Telemedicine

The onset of the pandemic in 2020 brought about a need for distant care platforms. The healthcare sector has seen the emergence of terms such as “Telehealth” and “Telemedicine” with some persons using both terms interchangeably. In reality, both these terms though similar can have a separate and distinct focus when it comes to digital healthcare.

Telehealth

The WHO defines Telehealth as “delivery of health care services, where patients and providers are separated by distance. Telehealth uses ICT for the exchange of information for the diagnosis and treatment of diseases and injuries, research and evaluation, and for the continuing education of health professionals.” Telehealth encompasses every modality of Information Communication and Technology to assist in delivering and educating on healthcare without geographical limits. When it comes down to it, in comparison to Telemedicine, it includes a broader scope of services for the provision of quality healthcare for both patients and professionals which can range from apps, email, text and includes broader sectors like medical education and hospital administration. Mobile Health is seen as a subset of Telehealth and also includes provider to provider communication and hospital information systems etc.

Telemedicine

Telemedicine falls under Telehealth and uses ICT’s to provide access to healthcare services to overcome geographical barriers. The differentiation lies in the type of healthcare, in that it is usually limited to clinical access between patient and healthcare provider. Telemedicine tends to benefit rural communities which are disadvantaged by lack of access to quality healthcare. The distinction lies in the ability of the clinician in using digital technology to provide healthcare to the patient. Telemedicine is restricted to the clinician/patient interaction. Using apps, email, instant messaging or video etc solely for the purpose of screening, patient diagnosis or prescribing medication.

The main difference, Telemedicine is considered one of the many Telehealth services. Other areas that fall under Telehealth include:

• Healthcare provider training
• Administrative meetings for healthcare organizations like hospitals
• Provider-to-provider communication
• Continuing medical education for providers

Some examples of each field is included below;

Telemedicine

The use of digital technology such as video consultation and remote monitoring between patient and doctor for the following;

• Annual Doctor Consultations
• E-Prescriptions and refills for medications
• Dietetics or Nutrition Counselling
• Mental health counselling
• Consultations for certain conditions, such as rashes, sinus infections or any diagnosis that can be treatable over the phone or video.

Telehealth

Telehealth is inclusive of al the previous listed activities under Telemedicine in addition to services outside of the doctor/patient care such as:

• Using any digital communication system to send patient notes, history, X rays to a specialist or attending physician and vice versa.
• Set up of an online training portal for doctors who practice in rural areas.
• Clinicians Interacting through video apps or platforms to advise or co-ordinate a patient’s care.

Telehealth has benefitted patients and doctors alike during the pandemic in that it has allowed outpatient activities to continue at hospitals and has allowed healthcare practices to continue amidst the global lockdown.

It has also helped in preventing the spread of COVID-19 by allowing patients to engage and interact with their doctors and doctors with their colleagues from safe distances. For further details on how Cellma can assist in providing a Telehealth and Telemedicine experience at your institution, contact us.