What physicians need to make a telehealth program stand out

When I became a physician years ago, the idea of telehealth had barely taken hold among doctors or patients. Today, as we bask in the passage of the CHRONIC Care Act of 2017, we’re seeing dozens of use cases in stroke, emergent care, psychiatry and more that underscore telehealth’s potential. Consumers are becoming increasingly digitally savvy too — and not just the millennials. Today, about one in five adults have tried telehealth — a number which, by all accounts, is expected to grow when new legislation takes effect and removes some of the biggest barriers to adoption. This means physicians will need to consider countless technology choices as they seek establish — or expand — their telehealth programs. Here are a few key points I’d advise my physician peers to consider as they plan their telehealth rollouts: Look beyond the screen. The video interface is, literally, the first thing that physicians see when they encounter a telehealth platform. But as at least one healthcare writer recently noted, nearly every telehealth platform offers stunning, high-definition video. Doctors need to dig deeper and examine the features behind the screen that support a telemedicine experience: Is the platform easy to use? Does it integrate with your clinical workflow? Is it compatible with your EHR? Prioritize EHR integration. What’s not visible is as important as what’s visible when it comes to moving virtual encounters across the continuum, a process that can span mult...
Source: Kevin, M.D. - Medical Weblog - Category: General Medicine Authors: Tags: Physician Mobile health Practice Management Source Type: blogs