SOUTH KOREA Law and Practice Contributed by: Kyungsun Kyle Choi, Eui Seok Kim, Han Kyul Nam and Eun Sun Jang, Kim & Chang
1. Digital Healthcare Usage 1.1 Types of Digital Healthcare
mHealth focuses on patient engagement via per- sonal devices. mHealth differs from telemedicine because it does not require live consultations; it can enable self monitoring, patient education, behaviour change, and data gathering on-the- go. For example, a blood-glucose tracking app or a medication adherence reminder are mHealth tools, even if the patient never directly interacts with a healthcare provider. Also, mHealth may provide only informational or supportive ser- vices (like exercise coaching) without diagnosis or prescription, distinguishing it from regulated Electronic Health Records (EHRs) are digital systems for storing and managing patient health information (medical history, diagnoses, medica- tions, test results, etc) in a structured format. EHRs/EMRs (Electronic Medical Records) are typically used internally by hospitals and clin- ics to replace paper charts. They support data access by doctors and may feed information into HIE (Health Information Exchange) networks. By themselves they do not provide care or monitor- ing; they underpin other digital services. Unlike mHealth or telemedicine, EHRs are facility- based tools. Remote Patient Monitoring (RPM) Remote Patient Monitoring involves using digi- tal sensors and devices to track patients’ health data (heart rate, blood pressure, glucose level, activity, etc) outside of a clinical setting, and transmitting that data to healthcare providers. RPM differs from telemedicine as it focuses on continuous or periodic monitoring rather than a direct consultation. It is also distinguished from mHealth in that RPM devices are often subject to medical accuracy requirements and clinical telemedicine or AI diagnostics. Electronic Health Records (EHR)
Digital health encompasses a range of tech- nologies that apply computing, connectivity, and data analytics to health and medicine. In South Korea these include artificial intelligence (AI) tools, remote consultation (telemedicine/tel- ehealth), mobile health (mHealth) apps, electron- ic health record (EHR) systems, remote patient monitoring (RPM) devices, and evidence-based software therapies (digital therapeutics, DTx). Telemedicine/Telehealth Telemedicine refers to the delivery of clinical healthcare services remotely, typically via video or audio call between a patient and a licensed physician. Telehealth is a broader term that includes telemedicine (remote consultations) as well as non-clinical remote services such as patient education, public health monitoring, and administrative functions (see the International Trade Administration website). In practice, telemedicine is a subset of tele- health. Telemedicine involves diagnosis, treat- ment or prescription by phone/video. Telehealth could also include remote health education, data collection, or provider-to-provider consultations without a patient. From a legal perspective, tel- emedicine would be subject to stricter rules as it is subject to medical licensure and privacy rules. Mobile Health (mHealth) Mobile health (mHealth) refers to healthcare and health information services delivered through mobile devices such as smartphones, tablets, and wearables. This includes health and well- ness apps, mobile-compatible patient portals, and SMS reminders.
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