Telehealth, or telemedicine, is the use of a digital platform to communicate medical information and/or deliver medical care. In simple terms, it lets you talk to patients about their health through a computer, tablet, or smartphone.

Telehealth has been around for many years, but it rose in popularity during the COVID-19 pandemic when people were encouraged to limit their in-person interactions with others to stop the spread of the disease. Even now that the pandemic is over, telehealth remains popular due to its convenience.

If you are thinking about offering telehealth services, keep reading. In this post, we discuss the different types of telehealth, the many benefits and downsides of using telehealth, the scenarios telemedicine is best for, the common capabilities in telehealth technology, and more.

Types of Telehealth

“Telehealth” is a broad term that encompasses any virtual transmissions or wireless communications regarding patient care and health. Here are the three main types:

Synchronous Telehealth 

Synchronous telemedicine is likely what comes to mind when you think of telehealth. It is when you talk to a patient about their health in real time. This is usually through a video call, though a phone call also counts. 

Asynchronous Telehealth 

Asynchronous telemedicine, also called store-and-forward telemedicine, is any interaction that doesn’t happen in real time, such as messaging a patient. This isn’t considered “real time” because when you send the message and when your patient reads it happens at two different times.

Remote Patient Monitoring

Remote patient monitoring (RPM) is when a patient uses technology to track their health at home. They monitor blood pressure, weight, blood sugar, or other health concerns and send their findings to their healthcare provider.

You may also see mobile health (mHealth) mentioned as a type of telemedicine. mHealth is the practice of using a mobile device to track your health. A mobile device can be anything from an Oura ring to a Fitbit watch to an iPhone. There is some overlap between remote patient monitoring and mobile health because many of the devices patients use for RPM, such as automatic blood pressure monitors, may also count as mobile devices for mHealth.

Benefits of Telehealth

There are several reasons you may want to consider offering telemedicine services. Here are some of the potential benefits for both you and your patients:

• Makes healthcare accessible to more of the population: With telehealth, people in rural areas can receive care from physicians whose practices might be too far to reach otherwise. If you take on more of these virtual patients, you can grow your practice without having to change your office space to accommodate them (e.g., hiring more nurses, leasing a larger space with more exam rooms).
• Helps physicians and patients save on healthcare costs: Building off of the previous point, telehealth services are cheaper for doctors to offer because they don’t have to worry about paying for the office space, staff, or equipment that in-office visits require. This means they charge patients and insurance providers less. Patients also save in terms of eliminating travel expenses to and from the clinic.
• Protects the health of staff and other patients: If a patient has something infectious, you can schedule a virtual consultation to review their symptoms and treatment plan. This is a win-win because they don’t have to leave their house when they’re feeling ill and you don’t have to worry about them getting others in your clinic sick.
• Offers an alternative for patients with limitations: Maybe a patient has a physical disability, a full-time job, family members to take care of, no mode of transportation, or something else that hinders their ability to get to your practice. By offering telehealth, you can meet them where they are and improve their quality of life.
• Improves patient satisfaction: The convenience of telehealth can make patients happier with the care you provide. For example, patients may feel more comfortable taking an appointment at home. They may also appreciate the ability to message you directly in between visits.

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Limitations of Telehealth

Though convenient, telemedicine isn’t right for every patient or every situation. Here are some of its downsides:

• Exams and tests: Some ailments require a physical exam or other tests for diagnosis. In which case, you wouldn’t be able to offer helpful treatment through a screen.
• Reimbursement restrictions: The rules around whether insurance will reimburse a patient for a telehealth appointment vary by state, insurance provider, insurance plan, and other factors. If a patient can’t get reimbursed, they might opt for an in-person visit instead.
• Technical difficulties: Maybe your telehealth system is down or your patient has an unsteady internet connection. Either way, this can lead to a missed or delayed appointment.
• No internet access: In a similar vein, some patients may not have access to the internet unless they go to a public space, such as a library or coffee shop. You should not schedule virtual visits with them because you cannot guarantee that the health data you discuss will be secure and private.
• Urgent care: When a patient’s health is at serious risk, such as with chest pain, urge them to call 911 or go to the hospital as opposed to scheduling a virtual visit with you.

When To Use Telehealth

We discussed when it doesn’t make sense to use telehealth in the previous section. Here is a list of specific scenarios that suit telehealth:

• Minor ailments: When a patient has a cold or something else small, a virtual visit can get them the relief they need without going through the hassle of an in-person appointment.
• Prescription refills: Similar to minor ailments, if a patient needs a refill of a daily medication, you can do this over video or messaging so that they don’t have to take time out of their day to come to your practice.
• Chronic diseases: Patients with chronic illnesses, such as lupus or diabetes, require frequent check-ins. Unless you need to do a physical exam, you can conduct these check-ins over a video call.
• Mental health services: Psychiatrists often offer virtual counseling sessions for those who feel more comfortable opening up when they’re at home in a familiar environment.
• Basic questions: If a patient has a quick question, such as what the side effects are for a medication you prescribed, they can message or call to ask you.
• Appointment follow-ups: If you have previously treated a patient, you can schedule a virtual follow-up to make sure the treatment plan worked. That way, they don’t have to come in for a quick 10-minute conversation.

Common Capabilities of Telehealth Technology

Doctors use specific software to facilitate telehealth communication. Telehealth systems can vary widely in terms of their functionality. Here are some of their most common capabilities so that you know what to expect:

• Video conferencing: You use video conferencing to virtually meet with your patients. The video is encrypted to protect any personal information you discuss with them.
• Online scheduling: This feature allows your patients to schedule both in-person and virtual appointments. It also sends reminders via email or text leading up to the appointment.
• Secure messaging: Messaging allows you to answer patient questions, refill prescriptions, and more without needing to schedule an appointment.
• Credit card processing: Patients sometimes pay for telehealth visits out of pocket and get reimbursed by their insurance provider later. Telemedicine software can process their payments.

Telehealth vs. EHR Software

Telehealth software gives doctors a way to talk to patients virtually through video calls, phone calls, and messages. On the other hand, electronic health record (EHR) software stores medical records. It keeps a digital copy of a traditional paper chart for every patient, detailing their entire medical history.

Many EHR software solutions have built-in telemedicine functionality. This allows you to leverage a tool that you already know how to use and that you can guarantee integrates with your electronic data. However, there may be some instances where it makes more sense to have separate telehealth and EHR systems. 

For example, maybe your EHR software doesn’t have a telehealth function. It might be easier to find a separate product for telehealth than to switch to an entirely new EHR system that does have telemedicine. Or, maybe there are cost savings associated with keeping them separate. Maybe the telehealth add-on for your EHR technology is so expensive that it’s cheaper to use separate telehealth software. Regardless of your potential reasoning, remember to choose telehealth and EHR systems that integrate with each other.

What To Consider When Choosing Telehealth Software

In addition to looking at a telehealth product that offers the above functionality, you also want to consider the following factors.

HIPAA Compliance

Whenever you are handling patient health data, you must keep HIPAA compliance in mind. In regards to telehealth specifically, you can’t use Skype, FaceTime, or any other video conferencing software that isn’t encrypted for virtual visits.

System Compatibility

Make sure your telehealth system is compatible with any technology you use to manage your practice, such as EHR software. That way, you can seamlessly transmit health data across all platforms.

Cost/Return on Investment

Before you start searching for telemedicine software, determine whether you have enough of a demand for this service among your patients—or a plan to reach new patients with it—to justify the expense. If you’re ready to move forward with purchasing one, consider setting a budget so that you can limit your search to providers that meet it right off the bat. You also want to think about other cost-related factors, such as if you’re locked into a contract for a certain length of time and how much it costs to scale your software if your practice grows.

Trial Period/Live Demo

Look at telehealth providers that offer a free trial of their product or at least a live demo with their sales team. That way, you can see the software in action and determine if it’s easy enough for both you and your patients to use.

Final Thoughts

Patients are turning to telehealth more and more because it gives them healthcare with minimal disruptions to their day-to-day life. Whether you’re looking to offer telehealth for the first time or switch to a new telehealth system, Officite can help. Contact us today to learn what our telemedicine solution can do for your practice.