TELEHEALTH
Telehealth is the provision of healthcare remotely by means of telecommunications technology. Telehealth incompasses all telecommunication technologies that supports and promotes long distance clinical healthcare, general patient health related advice and care, and triage of symptoms as related to the patient. Technologies include videoconferencing, the internet, store-and-forward imaging, streaming media, and terrestrial and wireless communications.
TELETRIAGE/TELEADVICE
The AVMA defines TeleAdvice as the provision of any health information, opinion, guidance or recommendation concerning prudent future actions that are not specific to a particular patient's health, illness or injury. This is general advice that is not intended to diagnose, prognose, treat, correct, change, alleviate, or prevent animal disease, illness, pain, deformity, defect, injury, or other physical, dental, or mental conditions. Whereas Teletriage is the safe, appropriate, and timely assessment and management (immediate referral to a veterinarian or not) of animal patients via electronic consultation with their owners. In assessing patient condition electronically, the assessor determines urgency and the need for immediate referral to a veterinarian, based on the owner’s (or responsible party’s) report of history and clinical signs, sometimes supplemented by visual (e.g., photographs, video) information.
TELEMEDICINE
Telemedicine requires a Veterinary Patient Client Relationship with the exception of information given in an emergency care situation until a patient can be seen by or transported to a veterinarian. Telemedicine is a subcategory of telehealth that involves use of a tool to exchange medical information electronically from one site to another to improve a patient's clinical health status. With telemedicine, a clinician can diagnose, suggest treatment or further diagnostics if needed, prescribe medications or therapy, and educate their clients on the care of the pet.