How to choose the best telehealth software for your practice
Discover key features, compare top HIPAA-compliant platforms, and get expert tips to select the ideal telehealth software for your independent practice.
At a Glance
- Choose HIPAA-compliant telehealth software with secure video and EHR integration.
- Top platforms include Zoom, Doxy.me, VSee, SimplePractice, and Tebra.
- Select software based on practice size, specialty needs, and existing tech compatibility.
Telehealth has become a significant component of modern healthcare, increasing care access and improving efficiency for patients and providers. Selecting the right software is crucial if you own a small or mid-sized practice; you’ll want to find one that is Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA)-compliant, reliable, and scalable.
In this article, we’ll discuss key features to look for when choosing the right platform for your practice.
What is telehealth software?
Telehealth software is a virtual platform that allows providers and patients to communicate and manage care remotely. Providers can use it to provide medical advice, diagnoses, and treatment.
There are 2 main categories of telehealth software:
- Asynchronous: Medical data is exchanged between patients and providers at different times.
- Synchronous: Real-time patient-provider interactions (e.g., video calls, chat, remote monitoring).
Key features to look for in a telehealth platform
When selecting telehealth technology, features include HIPAA compliance and secure video conferencing, electronic health record (EHR)-system interoperability, cloud-based access, patient portal and secure messaging, scheduling, billing, documentation support, and artificial intelligence (AI) and automation.
As Dr. Soma Mandal, MD, Internal Medicine Specialist, explains, “As an internist, selecting the right telehealth software is crucial to ensuring seamless patient care. It's important to prioritize a platform that offers robust security features to protect patient data, is user-friendly for both patients and healthcare providers, and integrates smoothly with existing electronic health records."
Dr. Mandal also adds: "Consider the software's ability to support a variety of communication modes, such as video, audio, and messaging, to accommodate different patient needs and preferences."
“It's important to prioritize a platform that offers robust security features to protect patient data, is user-friendly for both patients and healthcare providers, and integrates smoothly with existing electronic health records.”
| Feature | Why it matters |
| HIPAA-compliance and secure video-conferencing | Protects patients’ health data and provides secure audio and videoconferencing for patient-provider communication. |
| EHR system interoperability | Health Level Seven International (HL7) and Fast Healthcare Interoperability Resources (FHIR) integration allows the exchange of data between different systems. |
| Mobile access and cloud-based services | Mobile health (mHealth) apps and cloud-based services enable 24/7 access to health data. |
| Patient portal and secure messaging | Allows direct synchronous or asynchronous communication and access to medical records for patients and providers. |
| Scheduling, billing, and documentation support | Streamlines administrative tasks for providers. |
| AI and automation tools | Boosts efficiency with smart documentation, chatbots, and automated symptom checkers. |
Top HIPAA-compliant telehealth platforms to consider
Here are the top telehealth platforms to consider for your practice.
Zoom for Healthcare
Zoom for Healthcare delivers high-quality video and audio conferencing for remote care.
Key features:
- HIPAA-compliant with AES-256-bit encryption
- HD video and audio conferencing
- Cloud storage (5 GB, 10 GB, or unlimited, depending on the plan)
- EHR integration
- Mobile and web applications
- Integration with patients' medical devices to send real-time examination data like heart rate, body temperature, and video of the ears, throat, and skin to their provider
While Zoom for Healthcare is user-friendly, its pricing may be expensive for individual providers or smaller practices, especially when accessing advanced features.
Doxy.me
Doxy.me is a plug-and-play telehealth platform that makes it easy for providers to deliver remote care. It works in all major desktop and mobile browsers and does not require a download or install.
Key features:
- HIPAA- and Health Information Technology for Economic and Clinical Health (HITECH)-compliant
- Personalized subdomain for branding your practice
- Live chat — allowing providers to communicate with a patient by text
- Patient queue, allowing providers to see when patients check in
- Customizable waiting room
- Automatically updated meeting history
- HD audio and video conferencing
Doxy.me is free to use, but premium features come at a cost. Also, it is a web-based service that requires robust WiFi connectivity.
VSee
VSee provides a secure, no-code, low-code telehealth solution that allows practices to customize solutions tailored to their needs.
Key features:
- HIPAA-compliant
- Ability to switch to phone sessions if network is poor
- Share screens with live annotation
- Group video and group chat
- Integration with EHRs, health information exchanges (HIEs), and other system applications
- Supports plug-and-play medical devices: stethoscope, otoscope, dermascope, etc.
- Offers free features
VSee also offers mobile app access, but some users have faced challenges with its app connectivity.
SimplePractice
SimplePractice automates clinical treatment and administrative responsibilities for mental health providers and practice owners.
Key features:
- HIPAA-compliant
- Uses bank-level encryption for security
- Integrated online payments
- Measurement-based care to track patients’ progress
- Chat capability
- Digital whiteboard
- In-session timer to keep track of time
- Allows individual or group appointments with up to 15 clients
- Mobile and web applications
- Live customer support
SimplePractice may appeal to solo providers, but practices with larger teams may want to look for other solutions.
Tebra
Tebra is a next-generation, all-in-one telehealth app that meets the needs of small, private practices.
Key features:
- End-to-end, user-friendly experience
- Integrated video visits: Can start telehealth sessions directly from EHR and easily chart during the visit
- HIPAA-compliant and Health Information Trust Alliance (HITRUST)-certified video technology
- Is part of an all-in-one solution that offers EHR, billing, practice management, and patient engagement tools
- Personalized solutions to meet the unique needs of different medical specialties
- Offers group appointments of up to 200 participants — allowing caregivers, medical experts, and family members to join the visit
- Breakout groups: Providers can create up to 20 groups to assign participants during the visit
- Dedicated provider URL: Can conduct visits in secure telehealth rooms
- Virtual waiting room: Patients "knock" to enter virtual waiting room, notifying providers when ready
- Providers see 98% patient satisfaction on average for video visits
Tebra is a cloud-based, Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology (ONC)-certified telehealth software that is an all-in-one solution for managing patient experiences and marketing tools.
| Get a head start on your search by taking a self-guided product tour of Tebra's telehealth software. |
Final tips for choosing the right platform
As you look into telehealth platforms for your practice, keep the following tips in mind:
- Make sure the software’s features align with the size of your practice and specialty.
- Prioritize platforms that easily integrate with your existing technologies.
- Request a demo or free trials of the product before committing.
- Analyze vendor support, updates, and long-term scalability of the software.
"Ultimately, the best telehealth solution will enhance the quality of care and improve patient satisfaction," says Dr. Mandal.
“Ultimately, the best telehealth solution will enhance the quality of care and improve patient satisfaction.”
Finding the best telehealth platform for your practice
Telehealth is cemented in modern healthcare, and if you want to reach more patients and improve efficiency, it’s essential to find software that meets your practice’s needs. Consider your budget and must-have features, and remember the tips mentioned above to help you land the best platform for your practice.
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