What is 'telemedicine'?

Telemedicine refers specifically to the use of telecommunications technology to deliver clinical health care services remotely. This approach allows healthcare providers to assess, diagnose, and treat patients without the need for them to physically visit a healthcare facility. By leveraging various technologies such as video conferencing, mobile apps, and remote monitoring tools, telemedicine facilitates consultations and follow-ups, making healthcare more accessible, particularly for individuals in rural or underserved areas.

The focus on telecommunications distinguishes telemedicine from other healthcare methods. For instance, while some may consider a surgical procedure performed remotely as a form of telemedicine, it is more accurate to categorize that under specialized forms of remote surgery rather than the broader concept of telemedicine. Similarly, systems for storing health records digitally refer to electronic health records (EHR), which serve a different function in healthcare management. Delivering in-person healthcare services is fundamentally different from telemedicine, as it requires the patient and provider to be in the same place. Thus, option B encapsulates the essence of telemedicine as it clearly involves the application of technology to provide health care services from a distance.