Technological innovations are changing how healthcare professionals deliver services and connect with patients, and how patients engage in their health care. Telehealth and telemedicine are shaping the future of healthcare. These two terms are often used interchangeably. What is the difference between the two? Telehealth includes the technologies and methodologies used to provide virtual medical, health, and education services. The Center for Connected Health Policy and other members of the National Consortium of Telehealth Resource Centers have created a framework for defining and applying telehealth:
Live video conferencing: Live, synchronous, two-way interaction between a person and a provider using audiovisual technologies. For example, occupational therapists delivery of therapy to patients remotely or physicians diagnosis and treatment of minor illnesses at a distance, outside of hospitals or clinics.
Store-and-Forward (asynchronous): Using electronic communication technologies to transmit recorded health history to a practitioner who uses them to evaluate a case or render a service.
Remote Patient Monitoring: Using electronic communication technologies to collect and transmit personal health and medical data to a practitioner in another location for use in care and related support.
Mobile Health (mHealth): Using mobile communication devices such as smartphones and tablets to support health care and public health practice. Physicians, nurses, and other practitioners are using mobile devices to monitor vitalsigns in real-time, provide care, communicate with patients, track chronic symptoms, and even collect data. For example, practitioners can monitor blood glucose levels in diabetics who provide measurements from their homes.
The National Institute of Medicine defines telemedicine as “the use of electronic information and communication technologies to provide and support health care when distance separates the participants” (Institute of Medicine, 1996, p. 16). That is, healthcare professionals, such as primary care physicians or specialist, remotely consult with, monitor, and/or treat patients.
Telehealth is broad and covers telemedicine and other nonphysician services that are provided by pharmacists, nurses, physical therapists, occupational therapists, and many other healthcare practitioners. The Center for Connected Health Policy (n.d.) explains that telehealth goes beyond telemedicine—the traditional diagnostic and monitoring—to include consumer and professional education. That telehealth includes a wide range of diagnosis and management, education, and other related healthcare fields.
Similar to distance learning, the field of healthcare has seized the opportunity to deliver and enhance the quality of healthcare with technology. Distance learning in healthcare and telehealth have a common goal of providing quality education and healthcare at anytime, anywhere, to anyone. Delivery of healthcare and learning in healthcare has been reshaped and redefined.
A final note: As College Editor of Distance Learning I will be soliciting manuscripts that deal with telehealth and telemedicine, including the use of instructional technology in the health professions. Please contact me if you have questions.
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