Implementing telehealth
Table of Contents
Why telehealth
Telehealth has revolutionezed healthcare delivery. It’s similar to the portrayed doctor of old visiting their patients at the patient’s home. Although there are some limitations to telehealth, the implementation of telehealth brings advantages to any practice.
Pros of telehealth
- Increased Accessibility: Telehealth allows patients to access care from anywhere with an internet connection. This helps expand patient reach and could increase patient volume.
- Flexibility: Patients will reducing travel time and time off from work or school. This flexibility will provide better access to timely care and improve chronic disease management.
- Improved Patient Engagement and Satisfaction: Due to the flexibility we just mentioned, telehealth empowers patients to actively participate in their care, leading to better communication and higher satisfaction rates.
- Reduced Overhead Costs: Telehealth can lower overhead costs by reducing the need for physical space and additional administrative staff.
Cons of telehealth
- Workflow Changes: Practices may need to adjust their workflows to accommodate telehealth appointments and integrate technology into their operations.
- Staff Training: Staff members will need to be trained on using telehealth platforms and providing virtual care. Without proper training, your patient’s experience may be reduced instead of improved leading to bad reviews, and even loss of patients.
- Technology Requirements: Practices will need to invest in reliable technology and ensure they have the necessary infrastructure to support telehealth services.
- Reimbursement Considerations: Practices will need to understand reimbursement policies for telehealth services and ensure they are properly billing for virtual care.
Considerations for selecting the right Telehealth solution.
1. HIPAA Compliance:
Top Priority: Ensure the platform is fully HIPAA compliant to safeguard patient privacy and protected health information (PHI). Look for platforms with Business Associate Agreements (BAAs) and end-to-end encryption.
Avoid Consumer-Grade Apps: Steer clear of platforms like Zoom or Skype for healthcare purposes unless they offer specific HIPAA-compliant plans.
2. User-Friendliness:
For Patients: Choose a platform with a simple interface, minimal setup, and easy joining process. This reduces barriers and frustration, particularly for less tech-savvy patients.
For Your Practice: The platform should integrate seamlessly into your existing workflow and Electronic Health Record (EHR) system if possible. A platform that offers transcription for example would make it easy to copy and save your patient communications to your EHR/EMR solution.
3. Features:
High-Quality Video & Audio: Essential for clear communication and diagnosis.
Screen Sharing: Useful for sharing test results, medical images, or educational materials.
Recording Capability: Secure recording may be necessary for documentation or follow-up purposes, but ensure patient consent.
Text Chat: Helpful for quick questions or sharing links during the consultation.
Waiting Room: Manages patient flow and prevents disruptions.
Mobile Compatibility: Allows patients to join from smartphones or tablets for convenience.
4. Security:
Beyond HIPAA: Look for multi-factor authentication, strong password policies, and regular security updates.
Data Storage: Understand where patient data is stored and how it’s protected.
5. Technical Support:
Reliable Support: Ensure the platform offers responsive technical support in case of issues during consultations.
Training & Onboarding: Adequate training resources for both your staff and patients can smooth the transition.
6. Cost:
Pricing Structure: Consider per-user fees, subscription costs, or transaction-based models.
Scalability: Choose a platform that can accommodate your practice’s growth.
7. Integration Capabilities:
EHR Integration: Streamline workflows and reduce data entry by integrating with your EHR system.
Payment Processing: Securely collect payments during or after consultations.
Scheduling: Sync with your existing appointment scheduling system.
Additional Considerations:
Accessibility: Ensure the platform supports accessibility features for patients with disabilities.
Custom Branding: Some platforms allow customization with your practice logo and colors.
Patient Feedback: Gather feedback from patients about their experience with the platform.
Recommendations:
Research specialized telemedicine platforms that cater specifically to healthcare providers. These often come with built-in features to help with HIPAA compliance (remember that compliance is done by a business and part of your processes, policies, and procedures and not a built in software feature) and features tailored to medical consultations. Some popular options include:
We are not associated with nor make any recommendations on any of those products. They are just a few of the telemedicine options on the market now which are HIPAA compliant. Before making your final decision, test out a few platforms with trial accounts or demos to see which one best fits your practice’s needs and workflow.
Remember, choosing the right telemedicine platform can significantly enhance patient care, improve accessibility, and streamline your practice operations. Take your time, do your research, and prioritize HIPAA compliance, user-friendliness, and the features most important to your practice.
