In today’s rapidly evolving healthcare landscape, telemedicine is revolutionizing how medical services are delivered. From remote patient monitoring to AI-driven diagnostics, telehealth technologies are bridging gaps in healthcare accessibility and efficiency. Whether you’re a healthcare provider, policymaker, or digital health enthusiast, understanding key telemedicine terms is essential. This glossary provides a structured reference for the most important telemedicine-related terminology.

1. Broad Terms in Digital Health

The field of digital health encompasses a wide range of technologies and services:

• Telehealth – A broad term referring to the use of digital and telecommunication technologies to deliver healthcare services remotely. It includes both clinical (telemedicine) and non-clinical services such as health education, administrative meetings, and remote monitoring.
• Telemedicine – A subset of telehealth that focuses specifically on the remote delivery of clinical medical services, such as diagnosis, treatment, and follow-up consultations by licensed healthcare professionals
• eHealth – The use of digital tools and electronic communication in healthcare.
• mHealth (Mobile Health) – Healthcare delivery through mobile devices, applications, and wearable sensors.
• Connected Health – Integration of technology to create seamless healthcare experiences across multiple platforms.
• Health Informatics – The application of information technology to healthcare for data management and decision support.

2. Service Delivery Modes

Telemedicine services can be delivered in various ways to meet different patient needs:

• Teleconsultation/Teleconsult/Virtual Visit – Remote consultation between a healthcare provider and a patient.
• Teletriage – Remote assessment of symptoms to determine urgency and level of care needed.
• Telemonitoring / Remote Patient Monitoring (RPM) – Continuous monitoring of patient health data remotely using digital devices.
• Telecare – Remote support services, particularly for elderly or chronically ill patients to support care at home
• Tele-expertise – Specialist-to-specialist consultations and knowledge sharing.
• Telementoring – Remote guidance from experts to healthcare providers in training or in low-resource settings.
• Telecoaching – Digital coaching for lifestyle changes and chronic disease management.
• Tele-advice – Non-clinical medical guidance, often used for second opinions.
• Telefollow-up – Remote post-treatment monitoring and check-ups.
• Tele-intervention – Remote healthcare procedures or immediate intervention for acute conditions.

3. Specialty-Specific Telemedicine

Different medical specialties have embraced telemedicine to provide specialized care remotely:

• Telepsychiatry – Remote mental health consultations and therapy.
• Teledermatology – Remote diagnosis and treatment of skin conditions.
• Teleradiology – Remote analysis of radiology images such as X-rays, CT scans, and MRIs.
• Telecardiology – Remote diagnosis and management of cardiovascular conditions.
• Teleoncology – Remote cancer care, consultation, and treatment planning.
• Telepediatrics – Remote pediatric consultations and care for children.
• Telegeriatrics – Remote care services tailored to elderly patients.
• Teleophthalmology – Remote diagnosis and management of eye diseases and vision care.
• Teledentistry – Remote dental consultations and oral health assessments.
• Telepharmacy – Remote prescription services and medication management.
• Teleorthopedics – Remote musculoskeletal and orthopedic care.
• Teleobstetrics – Remote prenatal and maternal health monitoring.
• Tele-endocrinology – Remote management of diabetes and hormonal disorders.
• Telepathology – Remote pathology services, including digital biopsy analysis.
• Tele-ICU – Remote intensive care unit monitoring and critical care support.

4. Telemedicine Technologies

Innovative technologies enable telemedicine to deliver high-quality care remotely:

• Asynchronous/Store-and-Forward Telemedicine – Sending patient data (e.g., images, reports) for later review by a specialist.
• Synchronous/Real-Time Telemedicine – Live video consultations between patients and doctors.
• AI-Assisted Telemedicine – Use of artificial intelligence to support diagnosis, triage, and decision-making.
• Wearable Health Technology – Devices that monitor patient vitals and transmit data remotely.
• Telepresence – Use of robotics or smart devices to enable a healthcare provider’s remote presence in a clinical setting.

5. Healthcare System & Policy Terms

The implementation of telemedicine requires robust healthcare policies and systems. These terms are often used in the context of implementing telemedicine in the health system.

• Telehealth Infrastructure – Digital platforms, networks, and policies supporting telemedicine services.
• Interoperability in Telehealth – The seamless integration of electronic health records (EHRs) and digital health platforms.
• Digital Therapeutics (DTx) – Evidence-based digital health interventions designed to prevent, manage, or treat diseases.
• ePrescribing (eRx) – Digital prescription services allowing healthcare providers to send prescriptions electronically.
• Digital Public Health – The use of digital technologies in population health and disease prevention efforts.
• Remote Health Management (RHM) – Strategies for delivering remote healthcare services at scale, often for chronic disease management.

Conclusion

Telemedicine is transforming healthcare by making it more accessible, efficient, and patient-centered. As these technologies continue to evolve, staying informed about key terminologies will help stakeholders navigate this rapidly changing field. Whether you’re a healthcare provider, a digital health entrepreneur, or a policymaker, understanding telemedicine terms is the first step toward leveraging these innovations for better healthcare delivery.

Let us know if there are any other telemedicine-related terms you’d like to see in this glossary!