Importance of Knowing the Differences Between Telehealth vs Telemedicine

Besides recognizing what the differences are, it’s important to fully understand why those differences matter to healthcare staff and the operations of a medical practice.

Insurance reimbursement and coverage

Not all telehealth services are considered telemedicine, resulting in the possibility that some may not be covered by insurance in the same way or at all.

Legal and regulatory compliance

Most states consider the location of the patient as the site of care. With this in mind, some states allow temporary practice for out-of-state physicians, especially in urgent or emergency situations. If the provider is part of the Interstate Medical Licensure Compact (IMLC), they might already be eligible to provide care in the state the patient is in.

For example, in Texas licensure requirements between telemedicine and telehealth are distinct. Providing telemedicine services mandates holding a Texas medical license, whereas telehealth services require appropriate licensure relevant to the health profession. A physician in another state wanting to provide clinical services via a telemedicine platform would typically need to hold a medical license in Texas to practice telemedicine legally. A health coach in another state wanting to provide nutrition tips through a telehealth platform in Texas does not require a specific state license under Texas law (since it is considered an educational service and non clinical).

Strategic service planning

This allows the development of targeted services that meet specific patient needs and ensures regulatory compliance as stated previously. It also supports the allocation of resources such as physical office space, technology, and staff, while helping to build a scalable path aligned with the long-term goals of the practice.

Key Benefits of Telehealth Services

There are three main benefits to consider regarding telehealth services: Expanding patient’s access to care, improving your operational efficiency, and offering busy patients convenient alternatives to in-person visits.

Expanding patients’ access to care

Telehealth has enabled patients to consult with their doctors while they might otherwise not have been able to access the care they needed.

More practices and patients became aware of telehealth services during the global coronavirus pandemic, which discouraged people from leaving their homes to spend time in small offices where they might be exposed to COVID infections.  

After surgery, patients may be reluctant to travel to a doctor’s office, but you can provide them greater access to care by offering video conferencing to discuss post-op protocols during follow-up meetings from remote.

Consider the situation where a patient is traveling and starts to feel unwell. Instead of hunting around for a doctor while on vacation or at a distant business conference, the patient can check in with a doctor on your staff for a consultation. This gives patients greater peace of mind, working with a familiar healthcare provider instead of a stranger while far from home. 

Your staff can continue monitoring the patient remotely, providing a higher level of care.

Improving operational efficiency

Because telehealth systems enable you to connect with a broader base of patients, you can fit more visits into the practice’s schedule than if each of these individuals were to come in person. With more patients relying on telehealth connections, you can do more with less office space. Instead of expanding your facilities, you can allocate resources to hire more staff.

What’s more, since patients will have an easier time meeting you during a virtual video conference than arriving in person, you can reduce the number of no-shows. Of course, this also means your staff doesn’t have to spend time processing the extra paperwork involved in contacting patients and rescheduling them for a new appointment.

Providers appreciate that they have more options to deliver patient care when they can connect with their patients through a telehealth system. A physician does not need to be in the exam room for appropriate conference calls but can instead communicate from another location, such as a home office.

Offering patients a convenient alternative

Patients who expect their healthcare facility to have telehealth capabilities may decide to leave your practice and find a new provider if you cannot offer remote video conferencing services. So, offering this technology as soon as possible is in your best interest.

For a consultation or a routine, non-emergency follow-up appointment, it’s practical to offer patients telehealth services, which will save them time and money on transportation. Patients appreciate that they won’t have to take time off from work for a quick conversation with their provider.

For patients who live in rural, remote or underserved areas, telehealth gives them an alternative way to visit with their doctor when in-house visits are not required.

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