With so many virtual healthcare options available now, it can be overwhelming to try to sort through what each of them means and their purpose. What is the difference between telehealth and telemedicine? And how does telecare fit into all of that? Telehealth is an excellent option for people in Connecticut and can be effective for many of your medical needs.
Telehealth refers to the broader range of remote health services (clinical and non-clinical) available in your state, while telemedicine refers specifically to remote clinical services. Telecare is primarily focused on providing remote services to those who are elderly or disabled.
When you search for remote services in your state, it’s essential to know the difference between each of the tele-related classifications and the types of services they offer. Keep reading to understand more about each of these areas.
Telehealth generally refers to remote services related to:
The terms telemedicine and telecare actually fall under the umbrella of a broader category of telehealth. But what do all of these terms mean in the real world? (Source: Evisit.com)
Do you have a smartphone or a smartwatch? Have you ever used an online portal to store or access your health information? Have you ever done a consult with a doctor over the phone? All of these would be considered telehealth. If you are being taught, giving information, or receiving care about your health in a remote way, you are using telehealth.
Telehealth is also made up of online mental health therapy and apps for your health, like pregnancy tracking or fitness tracking apps. Many doctors use these resources to help gather more information about your health while you are out of their office, and it’s a convenient way for you to keep track of your own health needs.
Almost every insurance plan has telehealth options now. You’ll need to check with your provider to see all of what they offer and how the costs differ from your current care plan. Telehealth can be useful for small children up to older adults for a variety of issues.
Whether you are a busy business executive, an at-home parent, or any other occupation, telehealth can be a convenient way to take care of your health needs. In fact, it’s helped bring more effective healthcare to those in remote areas who may not have had access to health care otherwise. Overall, it makes healthcare a lot more accessible to everyone.
There are many different ways that telehealth can be used. You are probably using it already without even being aware of it. When you track your health data on your phone or log into a portal containing your child’s vaccination records, you are using telehealth. It’s easily transferable, and it keeps both you and your doctor informed in real-time.
Sometimes, there are additional benefits to using telehealth services that you may not have considered. Some insurance plans offer a reduction on your premium if you agree to track your step count information with a smartwatch or fitness band. Sometimes, companies will offer incentives or bonuses for employees who show that they are taking care of their health.
You can use telehealth any time you feel comfortable handling an issue remotely. There are special devices your doctor can give you or you can purchase, like a KardiaBand, to make it more secure and effective, but if you don’t feel like your issue can be handled remotely, it is recommended that you see a doctor in person.
Many less invasive issues like diet, exercise, or wellness checks can now be handled remotely if desired. Problems that may require further examination or more intricate analysis (like pre/post-surgical procedures, ultrasound, etc.) would not be good candidates for most telehealth resources. However, the information stored online about those examinations would be.
Unlike telehealth, which encompasses any and all remote communication about your health, telemedicine is specific to clinical care by a medical doctor. Doctors can evaluate, treat, and diagnose various health issues remotely through telecommunication technology. (Source: NEJM Catalyst)
If you call your child’s medical provider because it looks like she has pink eye and the doctor helps diagnose and prescribe treatment, that’s telemedicine. Sometimes it’s more informal and just a quick phone call; other times, it’s ongoing and used more purposefully in an individual’s treatment plan. The key is that it’s used in a remote, clinical way by doctors.
Telemedicine also applies when you are transferring records or medical images to a new or more specialized provider. Because this is included in your diagnosis and treatment, it would fall under the category of telemedicine.
Anyone can use telemedicine. Check with your insurance provider and make sure you know the costs associated with the virtual treatment. You can also discuss telemedicine options with your primary care provider and see what they offer and recommend.
Unlike telehealth, which is more general, with telemedicine you are almost always required to meet with a licensed medical provider such as a doctor, nurse practitioner, or physician assistant to practice medicine in your state. General telehealth hotlines will have their systems set up to match you with a provider in your state so that you don’t have to worry about the licensing issues there.
Typically, your insurance or doctor will have a telemedicine system such as VirtualWalkinCenter.com that they use to conduct their exams and send you information. This can include video and audio, though often you can still get the care you need through phone calls and even instant messaging.
If your insurance has a telemedicine hotline, you’ll simply:
A medical provider assigned to your case will give you a call, usually within a matter of minutes, to help discuss the issue with you and look at treatment options or next steps.
Telecare is both broader and more specific than telemedicine. It’s more general in the sense that it includes a range of products and resources for monitoring and analyzing data about a person’s health. It’s more specific because it typically applies most to disabled or elderly people and focuses on ongoing care rather than treatment and diagnosis.
To understand telecare, you may think about a wearable button that can be pressed if an elderly person takes an unexpected fall and has no one to help. He can press that button and gain access to resources that will help him. This is telecare. It helps people live more independent lives while having the safety and security access to a remote team if needed.
Telehealth is the wave of the future. It offers effective remote services with convenience to both the provider and the patient. Everything that you do to monitor or treat your health remotely is considered telehealth. More and more remote resources are being implemented and created by providers, so it’s good to get familiar with what’s available and what it all means.
Telemedicine and telecare fall under the umbrella of telehealth and focus on your clinical care. While telemedicine is all about remotely treating and diagnosing, telecare is more focused on ongoing monitoring and emergency care access. Both have proven to be practical and indispensable to people who might not have adequate access to care otherwise.
