Essential Telehealth Terms Every Healthcare Entrepreneur Must Know

Build Smarter: The Complete Telehealth Startup Glossary

If you’re launching a telehealth startup in 2026, you’re entering an exciting (and highly regulated) space. Between healthcare laws, clinical workflows, and business models, the language of digital health can feel like a barrier to entry.

But you don’t have to figure it out alone. This glossary breaks down the essential terms, giving you the confidence to navigate telemedicine, virtual care, and healthcare technology like a pro.

Below is an overview of the six major categories you will find inside the full glossary.

Bookmark the complete glossary here and keep it handy as you build your business

Business & Operational Basics

These are the foundational business terms every telehealth entrepreneur should know. From structuring your MSO correctly to tracking KPIs and deploying turnkey, white-label solutions, this category ensures your business runs smoothly and looks professional from day one.

Care Delivery Models & Workflows

Understanding how care is delivered,  async, sync, or hybrid,  is essential for designing patient-friendly, compliant workflows. This section helps you determine the right model for your market, patients, and regulatory environment.

Clinical & Patient Workflows

From the moment a patient fills out an intake form to the delivery of their prescription, these workflows ensure your service is safe, efficient, and compliant. Learn how to set up and optimize these critical steps.

Providers & Oversight

Hiring or contracting providers? This section covers how to staff and oversee your clinical operations, work within provider scopes of practice, and maintain quality and compliance.

Technical Integrations  

Modern telehealth is powered by technology that must support compliance and clinical efficiency. This section covers APIs, EHR connectivity, and integration architecture. For operations, product and engineering teams, these terms are essential to designing secure, scalable systems.

Legal, Regulatory & Compliance

These terms are critical for keeping your business on the right side of the law. Avoid costly mistakes by learning how PCs, licensure, HIPAA, and malpractice insurance fit into your business model.

See the top telehealth terms to know in 2026 in the full glossary → Telehealth Glossary