Top Facts: How Telehealth is Different From Telemedicine?

We have often come across terms like Telehealth and Telemedicine. Haven’t we? Although the terms sound similar, there is a vivid difference between the two. One might, however, be mistaken to assume that the terms refer to one subject and might use them interchangeably. This might often lead to common misconceptions and would lead to complexities in the medical field. While telehealth is a broader concept, telemedicine refers to the extension of clinical services to services to the patients. However, through this blog, we shall take a detailed look at the distinction.

SISGAIN is a renowned company that has developed best telehealth software for the benefit of the masses. It provides white label telemedicine & telehealth solutions in several parts of the world including the USA, UK and Africa. As we get to understand the basic difference between telehealth and telemedicine, we shall acknowledge the distinct benefits of each one of them. SISGAIN has provided a user-friendly interface to conduct several medical activities. SISGAIN’s telehealth software is a powerful tool to reach out to the people who have been devoid of medical facilities over a long time, thus increasing accessibility. Thus, the telehealth software has gained immense importance over the recent years.

Telehealth

The term refers to a wide range of medical services that are extended to the masses to provide patient care and other medical benefits. It is different from telemedicine as it includes broader aspects of remote services in the healthcare industry than that of telemedicine. It provides distinct features that are non-clinical in nature like provision of remote surgery, continuation of medical studies and other administrative services. Extension of clinical services are included in telehealth platforms. It is a part of the even broader concept, E-health, which is inclusive of provision of medical data, education and training facilities of healthcare professionals and administrative services through a digital platform.

Why is Telehealth beneficial?

• Telehealth, which is a subset of the even wider concept, E-health, provides clinical and non-clinical services to the patients.
• It is effective to a great extent as it allows several functions like conducting a remote surgery, to occur.
• It enables medical practitioners to continue their education through a digital platform. This is extremely advantageous after the outbreak of the pandemic, since the medical institutions are shut down.
• It facilitates the management of medical procedures and provides other administrative services that are crucial for the smooth running of a medical Centre.

Telemedicine

One might be intrigued to ask the meaning of the term. In simpler words, telemedicine is a subset of telehealth. Telemedicine is defined by the extension of clinical services to the patients using the digital platform, especially telemedicine software developed by companies like SISGAIN. Telemedicine includes extension of the services, aiding patients regarding chronic conditions, management of medical prospects that are limited to clinical ones and other clinical services that can be provided remotely over a reliable digital platform. Thus, in other words, telemedicine revolves around the clinical services and cannot be used for other medical aspects.

Why is telemedicine advantageous?

• It helps the patients in need by providing them clinical services.
• It assists the patients suffering from chronic ailments.
• Telemedicine platforms are designed for all, thus it is easy to use.
• Medical information can be exchanged for the purpose of a transparent analysis.
• It grants medical access to people through the process of remote monitoring.

Telehealth vs. Telemedicine

Summing up, there is a vivid line between telehealth and telemedicine. One must understand that telemedicine is a part of telehealth which again is a subset of e-health. Both the concepts are equally important and play a vital role in its own way when it comes to provision of medical facilities. Thus, both go hand in hand, yet one cannot be substituted by the other. All telemedicine is telehealth but not the vice versa.