Fnp 590 Define Telehealth And Telemedicine Week 6

FNP 590 DEFINE TELEHEALTH AND TELEMEDICINE WEEK 6 Explore the difference between Telemedicine and Telehealth and address when it is appropriate to use each of these by addressing each's benefits and limitations. Individual encounters with life-threatening diseases and recent pandemics globally cause innovative trends with the delivery of health care. Telehealth and Telemedicine are emerging as convenient and necessary ways of health care delivery. This document the difference between Telemedicine and Telehealth, appropriate use of each, benefits, and limitations. Koonin et al. (2020) define Telehealth as two-way communication between patient and clinician using technologies to provide healthcare via various methods. The methods could include the internet, cell phone, or computer apps. For example, Telehealth plays a role in delivering health services to our veterans (Harvard University, 2015). According to Harvard University (2015), Telehealth uses electronic tools to provide care remotely to patients. The use could include assessments, diagnostic services, treatment, and consults (Edelman and Kudzma, 1018). Telehealth's benefit is that it allows access to health care services, and the costs could be savings in transportation for the person. However, Harvard University (2015) mentioned Telehealth as a cost saver to medical expense is yet to be determined, and additional evidence is needed to support the claim. Telehealth is appropriate for chronic conditions and acute conditions as well. According to Harvard Health Publishing (2021), helpful Telehealth includes three ways: synchronous (the provider communicates with the client in real-time via a computer or phone), asynchronous (recorded images, data, or messages are available later for the doctor to use), and remote patient monitoring (measures are recorded, i.e., blood pressure or glucose and sent into the primary provider via the computer or internet). Other advantages of Telehealth include sharing information with health care team members, coordinating the care, and receiving reminders from your provider (Harvard Health Publishing, 2021). The disadvantages of Telehealth are the following: Privacy issues, insurance companies may not want to pay for non- physical visits, and one may have to come into the office for blood draws or imaging (Harvard University Publishing, 2021). Another limitation would include the lack of human touch or face- to-face physical interactions, which some individuals may prefer to see the primary caregiver in person. On the other hand, Telemedicine is like Telehealth; both use technology for communication and operate at a distance. Telemedicine is the practice of medicine (a licensed provider) to deliver care at a distance (American Academy of Family Physicians, AAFP, 2021). Further, the primary provider may assess, monitor, and prescribe prescriptions, plus make referrals; the service is more clinical (AAFP, 2021). Telehealth is a broader service and could be a more non-clinical service (AAFP, 2021). Telemedicine uses include treatments for minor infections, mental illness, or consults on critical cases (AAFP, 2021). In closing, there are slight differences in that Telemedicine is practicing medicine, and one should be licensed to practice medicine. Telehealth is broader and uses health services. Both can save on travel costs, but the verdict is still out on cost savings for medical expenses. Both are convenient in that one could communicate via technology and not leave home or office. Both are alternatives to traditional medicine and clinical practice. They both have a lot more in common than different, and both use technology. The disadvantages, of course, include one may have to come in for a blood draw or an image via radiology, lack of physical presence, privacy issues or hacking, and insurance may not pay for services.