Category: Uncategorized

Greater Patient Reach

Expanding your existing patient base is beneficial for both your practice and your patients: more people can access the care they need, and your team can access the patients you need to grow and expand. And one of the greatest advantages of telemedicine is reaching out to more patients you wouldn’t normally be able to care for and treat.

Patients who may be stuck at home and patients who have to travel far from rural or remote areas to access care can now be treated by your team. Primary care, medical education, specialist referrals, consumer patient education, and remote patient monitoring can all be successfully performed with virtual appointments.

Save on Costs and Time

Save time and costs on both ends by freeing up the in-office visits and turning them into visits that can be performed from the doctor’s and the patient’s living rooms. One study found that the wait and duration of a doctor’s visit costs an average of $43 for a patient in lost time.

Giving your patients the freedom to choose a virtual visit is an offer that most patients can’t refuse. And turning a majority of your patient meetings into virtual meetings saves you the extra overhead costs as well. This drives down late appointment rates and no-show rates, giving you a clearer and more streamlined overall schedule.

Quicker and Easier Patient Communication

Doctor visits are generally reserved for times when patients feel they have bigger issues that require access to professional care. But there are many cases when a patient won’t make the effort of going to the doctor because they don’t feel that their issue warrants a doctor’s visit, even if it does.

With virtual care through calls and email access, patients are more comfortable engaging with doctors even for minor issues that might not be so minor. For example, if a patient has concerns about their treatment plan or wants to know more about a certain medication, telehealth services allow them to get in touch with their doctor in a professional manner and learn what they need to know.

Improved Treatments

As discussed above, urgent and real-time consultation is crucial for providing the best patient care continuity. Healthcare providers can save their patients expensive, unnecessary trips to the emergency room with real-time telemedicine appointments that can provide them the consultation they need.

With the access convenience and ease on both ends – for both patients and healthcare providers – patient engagement rates generally rise once a practice starts offering telehealth solutions. The access barriers that stop patients from seeking care are eliminated, and patients can more comfortably engage with their doctor.

Finally, as a doctor you will be able to more effectively access and treat your patients who might wait years for a diagnosis on an issue that can be diagnosed in minutes. With increased access and a more flexible schedule, telehealth opens up treatment possibilities for thousands of patients with video access and email.

Frustrating Regulations and Barriers

Like all specializations in the healthcare world, telemedicine regulations can be frustrating and confusing, with regulations unique to each state. Adding access to telemedicine services and dealing with the onrush of new and unfamiliar regulations can be a headache many doctors simply do not want to deal with.

There is also the issue with privacy concerns as you access and use telemedicine equipment, with questionable telemedicine software and tools. If you do not adopt the right equipment and technology, you risk putting your practice in danger of hackers and legal issues.

Specialized Technology and Equipment

While it might seem like all you need is a smartphone or a tablet to help patients in rural areas access you with virtual visits, this isn’t always the case. The specialty technology and equipment for your telehealth services depends on the level of access and service you wish to provide.

Whether it’s therapy appointments, post-operative care, chronic patient monitoring, or other remote health services, the hardware and software to access and perform these properly can be costly and might require additional IT staff, specialized technical training, and additional equipment such as your own servers to avoid technical problems that might lead to reduced care continuity.

Limited Examinations

It is important to remember that virtual doctor appointments are still limited by the non-physical nature of the meetings. While live video conferencing is easier than ever before, they aren’t always enough to make a proper diagnosis that you can be sure about.

There are many doctors who are uncomfortable with making a diagnosis on issues they can’t see and touch in-person. Unless you have the training and are comfortable with making online diagnoses, you might find yourself having difficulty with virtual appointments.

Possible Office Reshuffle

Whether you are transitioning to a full telemedicine practice for maximized access or simply adding telemedicine services to your offerings, there may be a required office reshuffle. You might need fewer nurses – with a nurse seeing an average 7 in-office patients per day as opposed to 33 virtual patients per day – and more IT staff, requiring more than just equipment and technology implementation, but an entire overhaul of your clinic staff.

Saves Time On Patient Visits

Hospitals are breaking over backward trying to accommodate the volume of cases and patients every day. With tactical scheduling, overworked physicians, which is just as true in the United States as it is everywhere else, can transform long hospital visits to quick, comprehensive consultation sessions over video chat.

Instead of having to squeeze multiple patients in-between urgent care, physicians can save time on unnecessary patient visits and determine whether or not a hospital visit is necessary through video chat. Telemedicine streamlines the consultation process and eliminates unnecessary hospital visits, which will allow hospitals to distribute their resources more efficiently.

Consistent Patient Care

With telemedicine, hospitals and medical practices can put basic patient care functions on autopilot. By using a smart calendar and notification system, patients can be instantly reminded of follow-up sessions and improve successful follow-up rates.

When it comes to preventative care and post-hospital care maintenance, doctors can send out an email blast detailing at-home monitoring techniques, on top of regular video calls. Educational materials such as articles, web pages, and videos can be distributed to patients, giving them access to real medical information whenever they need it.

By eliminating the need to physically visit a hospital, patients are no longer obligated to take the time off their busy lives for a doctor visit, which will allow more patients to participate in preventative care and take on a more responsible role when managing their own health.

Lower Readmission Rates

With improved communication with their primary physicians, hospitals can encourage patients to be more compliant. Because consultations will become more regular, patients are inclined to listen to their physician’s instructions and take steps to improve their health. This is especially beneficial for patients with chronic diseases, as well as patients who are at a high risk of developing comorbidities.

More Access To Specialists

Patients in remote areas don’t always have access to local specialists. You can create a trusted network of primary care physicians and specialists via telemedicine technology, which will allow you to connect your patients with specialized care regardless of their location. This removes the burden of traveling long distances to receive a diagnosis in part of the patient or conduct a consultation in part of the physician.

Reduced Healthcare Costs

With telemedicine, patients can save on transportation and other costs associated with an in-person visit. This is especially important to patients with chronic health problems or patients that require consistent monitoring. With frequent check-ups and improved compliance, patients can also improve their health at home and avoid rehospitalization.

As for physicians, telemedicine allows doctors to be properly compensated for their time. Instead of answering patient inquiries over the phone at random times, remote consultations are now billable and organized through a schedule.

Telerehabilitation

Telemedicine redefines rehabilitation by showing patients that medical professionals don’t have to be on-site to provide the same level of support.

Telemedicine allows physical therapists and other rehab professionals to care for patients with specialized devices. On top of video calls, telerehabilitation typically includes other technologies including sensors that measure blood pressure, glucose levels, and physical activity. These will allow clinicians to monitor their patient’s progress and overall well-being the same way they would in a hospital.

Recorded activities and video conferences in real-time can guide patients suffering from acute and traumatic injuries, regardless of where they’re located.

Teledermatology

Before seeking out a dermatologist, patients with access to telemedicine services can consult with their primary physician regarding skin anomalies. By exchanging photos and conducting video consultation, primary care doctors can determine whether or not a skin anomaly requires urgent care. Additionally, prescriptions for allergies, skin inflammations, and other skin issues can be delivered via telemedicine.

Telepsychiatry

Telepsychiatry is the practice of conducting psychological and psychiatric evaluations and sessions over video call. With unimpeded access, psychiatrists can observe higher participation rates and improved quality of life, especially in rural areas.

Patients receiving psychiatric services overcome common burdens associated with getting mental health treatments via telemedicine. Because sessions are conducted at home, the stigma of being seeking out a psychologist is reduced.

As with other applications of telemedicine, patients now have the opportunity to find a psychiatrist that works for them, instead of limiting their options due to geographical location.

Teleradiology

Getting second opinions for imaging results is a common concern for patients. For those with limited radiology clinics in their area, telemedicine opens up the possibility of seeking out a professional with an entirely different medical history and therefore reaching a more nuanced diagnosis.

For practices, this means more bookings and consultations. By opening up your radiology practice to non-local customers, you can expand your clinic’s reach and provide your services to an entirely new market.

Symptom Management and Diagnosis

Acute health problems don’t always warrant a hospital visit. With telemedicine, primary care physicians can provide diagnosis and treatment outside of the doctor’s office. This is applicable to issues like the cold or flu, diarrhea, acute infections, bladder infections, allergies, and other conditions that can be treated at home and don’t require urgent care. For the most part, these health problems can be remedied with prescription medication and stay-at-home care.

Patients concerned over new symptoms can easily acquire peace of mind by consulting remotely with their doctor. This reduces treatment delays and allows the patient to move forward at their own pace.

Post-Hospitalization Care

Going back to the hospital after surgery or rehabilitation can be tricky for some patients, especially those who are living alone or have mobility issues. With telemedicine services, patients can participate in post-hospitalization care without having to leave the comfort of their homes. Patient monitoring becomes possible, reducing the risk of complications and infections, especially with surgeries.

Follow-Up Visits

Follow-up visits can be a burden to patients with scheduling difficulties, so much so that most patients opt out of second visits due to travel issues. By adopting telemedicine, your physicians can administer consistent clinical care remotely and deliver news, schedule additional tests, or prescribe medicine in a way that is more convenient for patients.

Chronic Disease Management

Chronic diseases require constant medical attention and participation in part of the patient, which might not be feasible for everyone. With scheduling constraints, sticking to regular hospital visits might not be favorable for all patients.

With telemedicine, chronic disease management becomes more convenient. It’s easier to help patients maintain good health with regular online updates as opposed to limited in-hospital contact.

Primary Care Physician Consultation

Overcrowded emergency rooms are a common issue in the United States. With telemedicine, patients can consult with their primary care physicians, who will then decide whether their case warrants a visit to the emergency room. Doing so allows hospitals to allocate limited emergency room capacity properly and actually focus on patients who need urgent care.

Patients with compromised immune systems will also benefit from this; they can have continued access to clinical services even without a hospital visit. With remote patient access, they can enjoy the same level of convenient care, without having to worry about exposing themselves to the hospital environment.

Prescriptions

With telemedicine, acquiring additional prescriptions becomes hassle-free. To prevent drug abuse, hospitals using telemedicine for medical prescriptions are expected to abide by pharmacology laws, including limiting supply to no more than 30 days and limiting drug prescriptions to controlled substances and other addicting non-therapeutic drugs.

Counselling and Behavioral Health

Research shows that telepsychiatry is a viable form of treatment and that results from video conferencing are comparable to results resulting from conventional treatment. This is true among diverse demographics, which goes to show that telepsychiatry works as a more accessible alternative to visiting a psychiatrist in the doctor’s office.

In fact, telepsychiatry might even lead to improved compliance on the patient’s part. Because patients don’t have to go out of their way to schedule their sessions, they have can still have access to medical education and convenient care, even when they are too busy to make time.

Clear and Concise Services

As increasingly popular as telemedicine services may be, there are still many people who don’t really get what it’s all about. The traditional doctor’s visit is embedded into many of our minds as a necessity. How can a doctor administer primary care and patient care properly through video visits? What does a virtual care appointment really entitle you to? What kind of telemedicine services can a doctor help with?

That’s why one of the most important things you need to do is explain your best practices and health services, clearly and concisely. Put it front and center on your website – the simple answers to the first questions any curious visitor might ask. They need to understand immediately what a virtual care services might look like, what you might be able to treat, and if this can really replace the traditional doctor’s appointment.

Check out this example from Doctor on Demand that explains the telemedicine benefit:

Homepage

Right on the homepage, there is a clear picture of what a virtual care appointment looks like. They show the video call between a doctor and his patient, available on both a smart phone and a tablet. This comes with the header – “Rethinking the way you receive care”, showing patients that care can come in more ways than one.

On the next panel, we see an explanation on the types of care that patients can expect: urgent care, behavioral health, preventive health, and chronic care, with individual pages for each type of virtual care service with their unique telemedicine benefit.

Homepage

To make it even simpler, Virtuwell shows their services in a “How We Can Help” section, with a list of common problems from coughs and allergies to skins and rashes to kid’s health and more. All of this is important to show patients that their general primary care need from a doctor can be satisfied by a virtual doctor’s telehealth services.

https://www.virtuwell.com/

Trust-Building Assets

After making your visitors understand what virtual care is all about, it’s time to start building trust. Curious visitors have to trust that they can get the same quality of care from a virtual doctor through a video conference call as they would get in an in-person doctor’s visit.

Your website needs to preemptively understand their most general worries, and those worries need to be answered before they can ask the questions. When done successfully, there is no greater way to build trust.

Check out this example from Virtuwell, with a panel that reads: “Real people: Always a human connection.” They understand that some patients may be worrying that they won’t get true human, trusted advice or counsel during a virtual appointment, so they address that head-on. Every single treatment is custom-made by a real, human healthcare professional who has taken the time and energy to understand your specific case.

https://www.virtuwell.com/

At CareClix, they also understand the importance of associating their brand with trusted household names that potential patients are already familiar with. By showcasing a section on their customers – including the likes of MetLife, Johns Hopkins, Rutgers Health, and more – they show patients that this is a place you can trust for high-quality, top-of-the-line healthcare, even if it’s “just” virtual.

Home Copy

Finally, Doctor on Demand leads their homepage with a header describing 24/7 care. Not only does this mean patients can have an experience on par with what they would expect from a local doctor, but it also means they can have an experience even greater than that, with 24/7 care that wouldn’t be possibly at any local clinic. This makes virtual care more than just a supplement to in-person care, but in some cases a way to surpass in-person care.

Homepage

Patient Education

Patient education is an important part of any successful healthcare-related website, particularly when it comes to telemedicine. It is crucial that you have the knowledge base and patient resources available for access right away, allowing potential patients to read up and understand any lingering telemedicine program concerns they may have.

In these examples from iCliniq, we see a section devoted to questions and answers from curious patients and their partnered healthcare professionals. This is a great way to build trust by showing real questions asked by real people, and doctors on the team ready to answer them right away.

https://www.icliniq.com/

At CareClix, they have decided to take a proactive approach against the COVID-19 situation by developing an entire page and learning section to their crisis response. Their crisis response page is a thorough assessment of the COVID-19 situation with examples and strategies on what to do, and how the average person can best protect themselves from any dangers.

Home Copy

At MeMD, they also set up an information campaign around COVID-19, with extra trust-building by referencing the CDC and their recommendation of telehealth. With 24/7 service, they assure their patients that they can help identify and talk about COVID-19 at any time of the day.

https://www.memd.net/

You may ask, “Why should I write content that they can already find elsewhere?” While it may be true that most information has already been written, it’s important to remember that by simply having your own educational material, you increase the authority of your own website several times over. Showing existing and future patients that you have your own set of health system information materials puts your telehealth program in a much better light.

Review Highlight

Highlighting your top reviews is always a great way to sell your business to potential patients, and the top telehealth program providers know this well. Remember: many of your possible patients are still mostly unfamiliar with telemedicine health system and what this entails. Having an overwhelmingly positive review section highlighted on your website can do wonders for making your visitors trust you.

In this review page by Virtuwell, we see not only the high average rating of their telehealth services, but also the high number of reviews they’ve accumulated. Showcasing not only their average reviews but also the low number of overall negative reviews does wonders toward building trust.

https://www.virtuwell.com/

Active and Informative Social Media

Finally, you can never go wrong with social media. Social media is the day-to-day of your telehealth program health system, showing curious visitors that your business is active and alive.

With MeMD, we see an active online presence where they share their latest activity. In this case, MeMD shares a video clip of their Chief Medical Officer appearing on the news, establishing their authority as a telemedicine expert.

https://web.facebook.com/MeMD/

CareClix also has a strong social media presence, with their team regularly sharing quick, easy, and helpful images that interested patients can like and share. It’s all about simplifying your message and distributing it in a way that will make people want to share it on their own platforms.

https://www.instagram.com/careclix/

And of course, YouTube. For telemedicine businesses that want to take that extra production step, utilizing YouTube and creating your own video content is a great way to become a lead authority in your industry. Doctor On Demand creates and publishes their own videos with titles that would resonate with their target audience like, “Can you take care of your kids if you have the flu?”