Telehealth and Telemedicine

There are subtle differences between the terms 'telehealth' and 'telemedicine'. Telehealth comes under the umbrella of 'telecare'.

Telehealth refers to a system which enables the clinical management of an individual's condition at a distance or in their own home. For example, technology can enable a patient to monitor their own vital signs, such as blood pressure, pulse rate, or temperature. Or a remote monitoring centre can take readings of physiological data and warn a clinician if the measurements fall outside the expected parameters.

Telehealth can help to empower patients by enabling them to take control over vital aspects of their health, and it can also help to reduce pressure on acute services.

According to the World Health Organisation, Telemedicine 'is the practice of medical care using interactive audio visual and data communications. This includes the delivery of medical care, diagnosis, consultation and treatment, as well as health education and the transfer of medical data.' This is therefore more to do with consulting medical professionals at a distance, rather than the monitoring of vital signs externally.