Nelson Mugarura posted
Telehealth and telemedicine concepts are oftentimes used interchangeably despite a few differences. Telemedicine is understood as the delivery of health care by medical professionals using telecommunication and multimedia technologies. We use computers, other monitoring devices, and telemetry technology. As argued by Nelson (2017), the Federal Communications Commission described Telemedicine as medical services offered to the care recipients by using telecommunication technologies such as monitoring, assessment and follow up services. The difference between Telemedicine and Telehealth is that the latter offers broader remote health services than Telemedicine. Telehealth includes non-clinical services like provider training, conferences, staff education.
Thus, Telehealth entails the use of telecommunication combined with data management technology to deliver patients’ care. It enables the care providers to assess, diagnose, treat, consult, teach, and exchange other information that may be crucial with their patients and other providers as stated by Edelman and Kudzma, 2018, p.331). Telehealth connects the providers and their patients who are in the remote areas. It facilitates the clients with medication compliance, health education and give them advice about their other health concerns.
Both concepts aim to be cost-effective to facilitate health services access and delivery. They bridge the gaps of primary care providers’ shortage including the physicians and advanced practice nurses. Many patients are reached out at a reasonable cost. The concerns of long distance, rural or remote areas are no longer the issues as videoconferencing, telephone or smartphone technologies are used for a two-way communication. The providers share and discuss images, important files and vital signs, which provide important information for chronic disease management, health improvement and the promotion of patient outcomes. The limitations would involve technology and lack of access to electronic devices.
References
Edelman, C. L., & Kudzma, E. C. (2018). Health promotion throughout the life span.
St. Louis, MO: Elsevier Health Sciences.
Nelson, R. (2017). Telemedicine and Telehealth: The potential to improve rural access to care.
AJN: The American Journal of Nursing, 117(6), 17-18. doi: 10.1097/01.NAJ.0000520244.60138.1c
Dear Nelson Mugarura,
With the introduction of telehealth/telemedicine services, patient diagnosis and treatment have greatly improved. The improvement in patient care also improved treatment outcomes, reduced mortality rates, reduced complications, and reduced hospital admissions (Alvandi, 2017).
I completely agree with your insights on the cost-effectiveness of both Telemedicine and Telehealth in facilitating healthcare access and delivery. The amount of money that individuals save from telehealth/telemedicine services is essential in enhancing their overall economic prosperity and boost their financial power. With the cost of medical care reduced, many people are likely to access health services hence increasing the utilization of healthcare services (Buvik et al., 2019). Easy access to healthcare has further reduced the care gap for mental health patients/underserved populations. Patients with various medical needs can also address these needs at once with the same service at a reduced cost.
Although telehealth/telemedicine is known as a life-saving technology for people who live significantly far from hospitals or health facilities, it is still crucial for healthcare providers to schedule hospital visits for their patients for a comprehensive physical diagnosis.
References
Alvandi, M. (2017). Telemedicine and Its Role in Revolutionizing Healthcare Delivery. The American Journal of Accountable Care.
Buvik, A., Bergmo, T., Bugge, E., Smaabrekke, A., Wilsgaard, T., & Olsen, J. (2019). Cost-Effectiveness of Telemedicine in Remote Orthopedic Consultations: Randomized Controlled Trial. Journal of Medical Internet Research.
Student 2
Abid Choudhry posted Apr 7, 2020 12:19 PM
According to an internet search, several websites have defined Telehealth as a broad range of technologies and services with the aim and purpose of improving the delivery of the healthcare system as a whole (Rodriguez, 2018; Smith, 2018; ONC, 2017). According to the ONC website, Telehealth is the “use of electronic information and telecommunications technologies to support long-distance clinical health care, patient and professional health-related education, public health and health administration. Technologies include videoconferencing, the internet, store-and-forward imaging, streaming media, and terrestrial and wireless communications” (ONC, 2017).
Some common uses of Telemedicine are: radiology reports read remotely by a radiologist with a report sent back to a physician/practitioner at a receiving facility; remote monitoring of ICU patients; emergency room remote video assistance; remote patient education and assessment by a remote specialist; remote patient record keeping with multifacility access and collaboration; etc. Smith, A. (2018).
Telemedicine is a subset of the broader Telehealth. According to Rodriguez, D. (2018), “Telemedicine involves the use of electronic communications and software to provide clinical services to patients without an in-person visit”. In other words, Telemedicine refers solely to the provision of health care services and education over a distance. All Telemedicine is Telehealth, but not all Telehealth is Telemedicine.
Telemedicine is used to provide patient care to small rural hospitals and clinics, physician groups, hospices, home health agencies and skilled nursing facilities. Furthermore, Telemedicine technology is used for triaging patients on an as needed bases, providing follow-up visits, helping to facilitate chronic care management, prescription and medication management, and other clinical services that can be provided remotely via cloud-based phone technology Smith, A. (2018).
There have been many benefits discussed in support for Telehealth and Telemedicine. Some advantages for Telehealth specifically are coordination and collaboration of patient care, physician to physician consultations, and staff education. The biggest advantage for Telemedicine is access to health care in rural and underserved communities.
Although Telehealth, and Telemedicine specifically, has been seen as the answer for addressing “territorial disparities by eliminating the geographical barriers of access to services, while contributing to the emergence of other ways of conceiving the clinical practices and the offer of services” Alami, H. (2019)., a recent Canadian study has revealed many negative unplanned and unintended impacts and consequences.
References
Alami, H., Gagnon, P., & Fortin, P. (2019). Some Multidimensional Unintended Consequences of Telehealth Utilization: A Multi-Project Evaluation Synthesis. International Journal of Health Policy & Management, 8(6), 337. Retrieved from http://search.ebscohost.com.wgu.idm.oclc.org/ login.aspx?direct=true&db=edb&AN=136214098&site=eds-live&scope=site
Rodriguez, D. (2018). Telemedicine vs. Telehealth: What’s the Difference? Retrieved from https://www.intellatriage.com/telemedicine-vs-telehealth-whats-the-difference/
Smith, A. (2018). Telemedicine vs. Telehealth: What’s the Difference? Retrieved from https://chironhealth.com/blog/telemedicine-vs-telehealth-whats-the-difference/
The Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology (ONC). (2017). What is Telehealth? How is Telehealth different from Telemedicine? Retrieved from https://www.healthit.gov/faq/what-telehealth-how-telehealth-different-telemedicine.
Dear Abid Choudhry,
The concept of telehealth/ telemedicine may still pose a challenge to some healthcare providers, given the slow adoption of technology in the provision of healthcare services. Despite the usage of telehealth and telemedicine services being slow, advances in technology and healthcare innovations have led to an increased demand in the adoption of eHealth services due to convenience, cost-saving, and effectiveness it brings (Wernhart, Gahbauer, & Daniela, 2019). Although there are varied definitions/ideas on telehealth/telemedicine, the concept of both is to provide a communication link to both patients and healthcare providers.
I completely agree with you that all Telemedicine is Telehealth, but not all Telehealth is Telemedicine. Unlike Telemedicine, Telehealth is not a specific service. Telehealth incorporates all aspects of a health system in improving patient care and education delivery with additional events like regular physician training and administrative meetings (Tuckson, Edmunds, & Hodgkins, 2017). Most patients in remote areas can access healthcare services virtually, reducing the spread of disease significantly, and the wellbeing of communities can also be improved.
References
Tuckson, R., Edmunds, M., & Hodgkins, M. (2017). Telehealth. The New England Journal of Medicine.
Wernhart, A., Gahbauer, S., & Daniela, H. (2019). eHealth and Telemedicine: Practices and Beliefs Among Healthcare Professionals and Medical Students at a Medical University. PLoS ONE.