With the advent of smartphones, the world converged into our hands. We now have access to every service with just a click, and healthcare is no exception. As virtual healthcare services become more common, we can comfortably book doctor appointments with zero waiting time from our bedroom and consult our physicians regularly from any part of the globe.
What’s the difference between telehealth and telemedicine?
Virtual healthcare services consist of telehealth and telemedicine. Although these two terms are often used interchangeably, they may have different meanings in varying contexts. Technically speaking, telemedicine is a subset of telehealth.
Telehealth is a broad term that includes all means and methods of improving and providing public health, healthcare, and health education via telecommunications technologies.
On the other hand, telemedicine refers to a particular type of telehealth service that involves a clinician offering their medical services to a patient.
Benefits of using telemedicine
More accessible and convenient care for patients
One of the major reasons why telemedicine is on the rise is because of how it makes healthcare accessible to everyone. Booking an appointment, traveling to the clinic, and waiting for hours are just some of the few things that telemedicine helps us eliminate.
Patients, especially seniors and disabled ones, who find it challenging to travel from one place to another can now easily set up their virtual appointments using a cellphone or a computer with an internet connection. The latest technological development like high-definition cameras and sensors also enable doctors to make more accurate diagnoses virtually.
Allows access to specialists
While it’s easy to find a general physician in your local area, it’s not so simple to access a specialist. But with telemedicine, a hospital system or medical practice can immediately access a niche specialist in case of a rare emergency.
Increases patient engagement
Today, we live in a connected world where we expect a better level of healthcare experience. Telemedicine allows us to connect with our doctors more frequently and regularly. This translates into more exchange of questions and answers between the doctor and their patient and ensures a more interactive and effective healthcare service.
If you’re looking for professional virtual healthcare services, we can help you. At FastDocNow, we offer online healthcare services to our patients. They can book a virtual appointment from anywhere, anytime!
We also offer online prescription refills, in-home lab testing, and much more. Contact us today to learn more about our virtual health services.