Defining Telehealth
Terms like telehealth, telemedicine, digital health, virtual health, and connected care all describe the use of electronic information and telecommunications technologies to deliver clinical health care, support health-related education, facilitate public health, and manage health administration remotely.
While these terms are often used interchangeably, their definitions can vary - sometimes sparking debate over what each should mean. As Christian Milaster notes in our Vendor Selection Toolkit: "Everybody agreed until somebody defined it".
Despite the terminology differences, these technologies share a common purpose: they are tools that expand how clinicians deliver care.
Key Considerations for Using Telehealth
Instead of focusing on nuanced definitions, it is perhaps more helpful to consider the foundational questions that determine when and how telehealth tools should be used. These questions shape clinical decision-making, inform policy and set expectations for quality and reimbursement:
Does It Work?
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- How effective is the tool or modality?
- What evidence supports its use?
- Are there clinical situations where it performs poorly or should be avoided?
- What benchmarks or outcomes should guide evaluation?
Is It Equivalent to or Better Than In-Person Care?
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- Should telehealth meet - or exceed - the standards of in-person care?
- How do we account for the variability in what "standards of in-person care" actually looks like?
- How should we judge telehealth solutions with no true in-person equivalent, such as remote patient monitoring?
Is It Better Than No Care?
For some individuals, especially those in rural and other areas with limited access to high quality care, the alternative to telehealth may be no care at all.
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- How do we assess situations where telehealth is the only viable option?
- Who determines when telehealth is the best - or only - path to access?
Clinician Competency
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- Are clinicians adequately trained to use telehealth tools?
- What defines acceptable competence or proficiency?
- How and when should competency be assessed or reassessed?
Is it the Right Tool for the Specific Condition?
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- What criteria should be considered - effectiveness, accuracy, efficiency, equitable access or risk of misuse?
- Who is responsible for determining whether telehealth is appropriate in a given clinical context?
These questions sit at the heart of how policymakers, regulators, payors and health systems define when telehealth is "acceptable", "appropriate", or "reimbursable." They also reflect the ongoing evolution of telehealth as it becomes more fully integrated across the care continuum.
For deeper insights into "What is Telehealth" and telehealth taxonomy, explore the related materials in our Vendor Selection Toolkit.
