Page 15 - Part 1 Introduction to Telemedicine

SVMIC Introduction to Telemedicine

The term ‘telehealth’ is often used to encompass a

broader definition of remote healthcare that does not

always involve clinical services. Videoconferencing,
transmission of still images, e-health including patient

portals, remote monitoring of vital signs, continuing

medical education and nursing call centers are all

considered part of telemedicine and telehealth.
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Another term that appears frequently is “mHealth”. This typically
refers to applications, which are often consumer-oriented, that

operate on mobile devices (i.e. cell phones and tablets).

Telemedicine vs. Other e-Communication

Today’s users have a myriad of channels for connecting with each

other. The definitions above present challenges for determining
exactly what constitutes telemedicine. In fact, there are legitimate

reasons for confusion.

The differences are increasingly blurry between modalities that fall

under regulatory or payer definitions of “telemedicine” and other

forms of electronic communication used by physicians and
patients. In the early days, telemedicine implied a private television

connection, often requiring special equipment and a dedicated

network. Today, video calling capability, even across multiple sites,
essentially comes free with every cell phone and computer. When

is a video chat session telemedicine, and when is it just a social
conversation? When a clinical problem is posed on a professional

chat board by one physician, and a solution is suggested by an
expert in another country, is that telemedicine?

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