In recent years, telehealth has emerged as a game-changer in the healthcare industry, providing healthcare professionals with the ability to deliver care to patients remotely. With the COVID-19 pandemic accelerating the adoption of telehealth, healthcare professionals need to equip themselves with the necessary tips, tools, and techniques to improve patient care through telehealth. In this article, we’ll explore some of the best practices to make the most of telehealth for healthcare professionals.
Choose The Right Telehealth Platform
One of the most crucial aspects of telehealth is choosing the right platform. With a wide range of telehealth platforms available in the market, it can be overwhelming for healthcare professionals to pick the best one. When selecting a telehealth platform, healthcare professionals should consider factors such as ease of use, security, cost-effectiveness, and integration with existing health systems.
David Woroboff, the founder and CEO of 24/7 Call-A-Doc, recommends selecting a telehealth platform with user-friendly interfaces and robust security features. A platform that integrates seamlessly with electronic health records (EHR) can also make the process more efficient for healthcare professionals.
Ensure Proper Training For Telehealth
Telehealth requires specific training for healthcare professionals to provide high-quality patient care. Training should include educating healthcare professionals on how to use the telehealth platform, conduct virtual consultations, and document patient care effectively. It is essential to remember that telehealth consultations are not the same as in-person consultations and require different skills.
David Woroboff emphasizes the importance of healthcare professionals receiving the necessary training for telehealth to ensure they are proficient in providing virtual care. Exercise can help healthcare professionals improve their communication skills and ensure they provide the best possible care to patients.
Make The Most Of Telehealth Features
Telehealth platforms offer a wide range of features that can help healthcare professionals provide better care to patients. Some of the most common features include video conferencing, messaging, and virtual waiting rooms. Healthcare professionals should make the most of these features to improve patient care.
For instance, virtual waiting rooms can help reduce patient wait times, while messaging features enable healthcare professionals to communicate quickly and efficiently with patients. Video conferencing can also help healthcare professionals provide a more comprehensive assessment of patients by allowing them to see their physical condition.
Maintain A Personal Touch
One of the biggest challenges of telehealth is the lack of personal touch in in-person consultations. However, healthcare professionals can still maintain an emotional connection with patients by taking the time to get to know their patients and building rapport. Healthcare professionals can also use virtual backgrounds and personalized greetings to make the telehealth experience more engaging and comfortable for patients.
David Woroboff suggests that healthcare professionals should consciously maintain a personal touch when providing telehealth services. By doing so, healthcare professionals can help patients feel more comfortable during virtual consultations.
T telehealth has become an essential tool for healthcare professionals, enabling them to provide high-quality care to patients remotely. By selecting the right telehealth platform, ensuring proper training, making the most of telehealth features, and maintaining a personal touch, healthcare professionals can make the most of telehealth and provide the best possible care to patients.