There’s no debate that COVID-19 shook the healthcare industry greatly, and some areas of the country are still feeling the repercussions. Although we’re by no means through the pandemic yet, healthcare facilities are learning what they need to do to survive and meet patients where they are––just not physically. To prevent the spread of the novel coronavirus, most healthcare facilities are pivoting to telehealth. The problem is that some facilities don’t know where to begin if they’re going to offer telehealth services. In this aspect, we’ve got you covered. We made a guide to getting started in telehealth to reference and offer your patients phenomenal care; read on to learn how to start.
Inspect Your State’s Laws Regarding Telehealth
Unsurprisingly, there are several laws and regulations surrounding telehealth, and it’s vital that you abide by those laws. You can find a detailed list of laws, regulations, and checklists on the CCHPCA website for accurate and updated information for each state. Researching the laws will protect your practice from legal trouble and provide information regarding what you are and aren’t allowed to do during a telemedicine visit. For instance, some states don’t allow you to write prescriptions virtually, while others do.
Invest in Quality Technology
In order to provide the best care and ensure the best patient experience, you need technology that’s reliable. There’s a relatively small list of technology that you should have before offering telehealth appointments. Included in that technology is a quality webcam, laptop or computer, and a reliable internet connection. Many healthcare professionals are choosing to remain in their office while conducting telehealth appointments, but others are running appointments from their home office. To ensure patient privacy, you should have a quiet space to work, and headphones to ensure nobody else is hearing the patient’s private information if you’re working from home.
Ensure Your Facility Has the Appropriate Cabling Infrastructure
Although we don’t know when we’ll get through the COVID-19 pandemic, there’s no doubt that we will get through it eventually. That said, you should ensure you equip your practice’s office with a quality cabling infrastructure to ensure connectivity throughout your practice and beyond. Most organizations and healthcare facilities recognize the importance of structured cabling, and you should too. Structured cabling will not only keep your facility’s connectivity efficient and organized, but it also supports remote workers as well.
While implementing telehealth can appear daunting at first, our guide to getting started in telehealth proves otherwise. We don’t know how long patients will demand telehealth appointments, but many healthcare professionals agree it’ll last long beyond the pandemic. In other words, you must keep your practice current with technology that supports remote care and remote workers to survive.
