While many people use it interchangeably, both these terms are not synonymous. Telemedicine uses the internet to facilitate healthcare. The radiology field when paired with telemedicine is known as teleradiology. Teleradiology, therefore, is a subset of telemedicine that aims to take the work of telemedicine further. It evolved due to the gap in demand and availability of diagnostic facilities.
Be it MRI, CT scan, or X-rays, any imagining can be transmitted through the facility by teleradiology. The first step is obtaining the medical images, which are then viewed and interpreted by a radiologist for consultation and diagnostic work. Telemedicine on the other hand encompasses patient care, communication, and digital technologies to facilitate all kinds of healthcare services.
As a professional, it is crucial to understand that telemedicine is the broader spectrum that encompasses various other subsets like teleradiology.
