The Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services defines telehealth as the use of electronic information and telecommunications technologies to support and promote long-distance clinical health care, patient and professional health-related education, public health and health administration. Technologies include videoconferencing, the internet, store-and-forward imaging, streaming media, and terrestrial and wireless communications
Telehealth is a reasonable alternative for patients who lack regular access to relevant medical expertise in their geographic area or due to time constraints.
Telehealth visits are episodic and does not include annual exams or physical exams.
Telehealth is for direct-to-patient services and should be used only as an intermittent alternative to a patient’s primary care practitioners when necessary to meet the patient’s immediate acute care needs.