What is Telehealth? Benefits, Uses, & How It Compares to In-Person Care (2025)

Telehealth has proven itself to be a viable option to provide efficient healthcare, especially after the COVID-19 pandemic. 

However, despite its popularity, a majority of people still often confuse telehealth with telemedicine or even ask, “What is telemedicine used for?” 

In this blog, we’ll cover all the essentials, the benefits of telehealth, when to choose telehealth, and answer all of your frequently asked questions about telehealth.

What is Telehealth?

Telehealth, as per the World Health Organization (WHO), is "the delivery of health care services at a distance using electronic means for ‘the diagnosis of treatment, and prevention of disease and injuries, research and evaluation, education of health care providers’ to improve health". Simply put, Telehealth is the use of electronic technology to provide healthcare services remotely, including diagnosis, treatment, disease prevention, research, and education, all aimed at improving health.

How to Use Telehealth in 2025?

If you’re wondering how telehealth works and how to use it, it’s very easy. Here’s a quick step-by-step guide:

Step 1: Create Your Account: First, you’d need to set up an account with your desired virtual healthcare provider.

Step 2: Book an Appointment: Simply schedule an appointment from available time slots. 

Step 3: Share Your Symptoms: Depending on the platform, you’ll be asked to fill out a quick online form and upload photos if necessary.

Step 4: Make Your Payment: Next, you’d need to pay either for a one-time consult or a subscription plan.

Step 5: Talk to a Doctor: At the scheduled time, you’ll receive a call from a board-certified physician.

Step 6: Receive Treatment: If needed, a doctor will write prescriptions that can be delivered either to your home or a local pharmacy.

Are Telehealth and Telemedicine the Same?

No, telehealth and telemedicine are two different things, though their concepts relate. While both are often used interchangeably, there are key differences between them.

What is Telemedicine? 

Telemedicine is the use of technology to deliver specific medical services remotely. It focuses primarily on clinical care, meaning things like diagnosis, treatment, and monitoring of patients.

Differences between Telehealth and Telemedicine

NOTE: Both telehealth and telemedicine can be used for diagnosing, treating, and prescribing medication. While different platforms vary in the type of conditions they diagnose, Mediva can help you with:

Key Advantages of Telehealth

Telehealth offers numerous benefits for healthcare practitioners, enhancing their efficiency, reach, and overall practice. Here are key telehealth pros:

• Convenience: 24/7 access to healthcare providers, ideal for people in remote areas or with mobility issues.  

• Cost: Compared to in-person visits, it is significantly cheaper.

• Speed: Telehealth helps you connect with specialists in less than an hour. 

• Safety: Helps you avoid sick waiting rooms.

Telehealth Disadvantages to Consider

Even though telehealth is significantly beneficial to patients with mobility issues, it does have some drawbacks that can deter some patients, like:

• Emergencies: Virtual urgent care at the end of the day is virtual care, therefore, it cannot be used for emergencies like fractures. 

• Technology Barriers: Studies conclude that tech barriers exist among older adults. As they may need help with booking the appointment or even using the virtual primary care. 

• No Physical Exam: Certain tests like X-rays cannot be performed virtually.

• Internet Dependency: You require a strong internet connection.

When to Use Telehealth vs. In-Person Care

Now, the big question every patient has is, “What's the right time to use telehealth?”

Use Telehealth for:

• Non-urgent consultations, such as for mild symptoms, follow-ups, and chronic condition management.

• Mental health services, like therapy or counseling.

• Prescription refills and advice on common illnesses (e.g., cold, flu, allergies).

• General health inquiries or second opinions.

Use In-Person Care for:

• Emergency situations or severe symptoms (e.g., chest pain, difficulty breathing).

• Physical examinations or tests that require hands-on evaluation (e.g., blood work, X-rays).

• Conditions that need immediate or specialized care (e.g., surgeries, urgent care visits).

  
  

NOTE: If you’ve injured yourself and you require immediate medical attention, it is best to call 911.

Is Telehealth As Good As In-person Care?

Both types of medical care address different types of scenarios. However, you can check how reliable a healthcare service is by checking diagnostic accuracy rates.

Thankfully, research has increasingly compared the effectiveness of telehealth and traditional in-person care, providing valuable insights into their respective strengths and limitations.

Studies comparing outcomes and patient satisfaction generally indicate that the differences between telehealth and in-person care are often small and not clinically significant for many conditions. 

Regarding diagnostic accuracy, researchers claimed that the telemedicine diagnosis matched the in-person diagnosis in 86.9% of cases.

NOTE: Diagnostic accuracy can vary depending on the medical specialty and the specific condition.

The bottom line is that telehealth is a significant advancement in healthcare delivery. In 2025, it offers patients, especially disabled ones or in remote areas, high quality healthcare services. 

While it may not replace all in-person medical interactions, it serves as a valuable tool for many patients.

Experience Quality Telehealth Services with MEDIVA

Looking for reliable and accessible healthcare from the comfort of your home? MEDIVA is a comprehensive online telemedicine platform that connects you with board-certified physicians 24/7, ensuring expert care whenever you need it.

Book your virtual consultation today!

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)