10 telehealth best practices

Telehealth saw a dramatic surge in popularity following the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. Although many believe we’ve entered a post-pandemic world, it's clear that telehealth has cemented its place in modern healthcare. We've gathered 10 effective strategies to assist your practice in seamlessly incorporating telehealth on a lasting basis.

Follow these best practices to ensure your telehealth services are optimal for your patients and your practice.

Aim to make telehealth sessions mirror face-to-face interactions as closely as possible. Pay attention to your patients, inquire about their concerns, and offer observations.

If you've previously interacted with the patient, refer to that history during the session. Even if you’re conducting the session from home, dress as you would for an in-person appointment. Ensure optimal lighting and sound quality to enhance the experience. These steps are pivotal in fostering and preserving trust with your patients.

Telehealth offers the distinct advantage of seeing a patient’s home life. This insight can enhance your understanding of the elements influencing a patient's health. Furthermore, witnessing patients in their usual surroundings can offer a clearer picture of their mental health and overall wellness.

Without being able to access in-person lab tests and vital sign assessments, handheld medical instruments like glucose monitors, blood pressure monitors, and pulse oximeters can help fill in the gap. However, ensure that any device you use is thoroughly reviewed for accuracy.

Familiarize yourself with any restrictions your patients may face related to the locations of telehealth appointments, as well as requirements for the length of visits. Adhering to these regulations is crucial for receiving reimbursement.

While telehealth offers numerous advantages, it does come with constraints — notably, the lack of traditional tools you’d use in person. Strive to think of creative ways to evaluate patients based on items they’d commonly have at home.

Since many providers work from remote locations occasionally, there's an elevated risk of data compromise due to equipment misplacement or theft. Mitigate this by ensuring rigorous data encryption.

It's crucial to have only authorized individuals participate in a telehealth session. Employing two-step verification, where patients and providers receive one-time access codes, is an effective method to verify identities.

Telehealth appointments should align effortlessly with other appointments throughout your day, offering the same efficiency as face-to-face sessions. The aim is to transition smoothly between in-person and virtual appointments.

Outline a systematic procedure for patient check-ins and check-outs, as well as collecting co-pays. Additionally, ensure the methods for scheduling subsequent appointments and handling referrals are well-communicated among practice staff.

Select a telehealth solution that is intuitive, integrates seamlessly with your EHR, is secure, and provides optimal virtual patient care.

Telehealth is here to stay, so it’s vital for your practice to sustain successful strategies over the long run. While each of the mentioned best practices serves an important purpose, a key determinant of your telehealth program's success is also the platform you adopt.