The Difference Between Virtual Care and Telehealth

For instance, there is a revolution underway in healthcare, particularly in the field of remote medical care. Two terms that often come up in this context are "virtual care" and "telehealth." While these terms are sometimes used interchangeably, they actually have distinct meanings and implications.

In this brief article brought to you by Southern Maryland Medical Group, we introduce you to these two different facets of remote healthcare to help you understand how these terms apply to your healthcare experience and how both healthcare providers and patients can benefit.

Virtual Care: An all-encompassing umbrella

Think of “virtual care” as the big umbrella under which various forms of digital health services exist. Virtual care refers to any interaction between a patient and healthcare professional that takes place remotely through technology rather than in person.

To drive the point home, let’s overview a few different types of healthcare delivery that virtual care encompasses:

• Telehealth Visits: These are the actual online “visits” with a healthcare provider. They can be conducted via video or phone call.
• Remote Monitoring: This is when a doctor or healthcare team keeps an eye on your health data using technology.
• Health Information Sharing: With patient portals and mobile apps, you can digitally send messages, share test results, and access information from your healthcare provider.

Virtual care can be either live in real-time or asynchronous (like messaging or sending recorded information). Essentially, virtual care is designed to make healthcare more accessible and convenient. It’s the future of healthcare that meets people wherever they are.

Telehealth: A key element of virtual care

If virtual care is the umbrella, think of “telehealth” as one of the larger spokes holding it up. Telehealth is a specific type of virtual care that refers primarily to live, interactive sessions with primary care doctors and healthcare providers.

Telehealth is often thought of as “virtual doctor visits” but also includes remote therapy, consultations with dietitians, and other services that connect you directly with a healthcare provider in real-time.

So, what’s the difference?

In short, telehealth is a type of virtual care while virtual care represents the broader scope. Virtual care includes not only telehealth visits but also services like remote patient monitoring, digital messaging, patient portals, and any other digital touchpoints that keep patients connected with their healthcare providers.

Here’s an example to highlight the difference between the two:

• Suppose you’re managing high blood pressure. Your doctor might have you wear a blood pressure monitor that automatically sends data to their office (remote monitoring), check in with you weekly via a video call (telehealth), and send you exercise tips through your patient portal (virtual care).

The future of virtual healthcare and telehealth

Both virtual care and telehealth offer solutions that make healthcare more accessible, convenient, and often more effective – and Southern Maryland Medical Group is proud to be at the cutting-edge of putting this technology to practice.

If you’d like to schedule an appointment with a primary care physician or learn more about our virtual care services, call Southern Maryland Medical Group to get in touch with a member of our team.