Concerns Associated with Telemedicine and Their Solution
Overview:
The advancement in telehealth services has reaped many benefits, specifically over the past few months. But, in addition to its beneficial impact, there are also some concerns associated with it. Here in this blog, we will discuss those challenges in detail and a practical solution or strategy to overcome them.
Summary:
- Understanding the patient’s needs and concerns is one of the most critical factors that play a significant role in your telehealth practice’s growth.
- Upon the virtual appointment, patients get worried about the quality of services and care they will get.
- HIPAA-compliant telehealth technology is an effective solution to ensure the security and privacy of patient’s data.
- Ensure your platform is user-friendly and easy to understand for the patients who are not well aware of the technology.
- Your workflow can get complicated if the platform you are using for the provision of telemedicine services is not coordinating with EHR.
A better understanding of the customer’s needs is the essential requirement for running any business. The same rule is applied to healthcare as it is expanding so rapidly. There is a dire need to address the patient’s concerns through designing and implementing an effective strategy.
Major Concerns on Part of Telemedicine
With every technological advancement, there also comes certain challenges that need to be addressed. Likewise, Telemedicine also has some associated pros and cons. But, the good news is you can overcome all those telemedicine challenges by choosing and devising the right strategy that best addresses your patient’s needs.
Some of the significant telemedicine concerns with an effective plan to overcome them are mentioned below:
1. Inadequate or Low-Quality Healthcare
One of the patients’ significant concerns is the quality of services they will get in response to the telemedicine service availed. While booking the virtual appointments, the patient may get insecure about the assigned doctor and his capability to provide the utmost quality care you deserve. The majority of new patients are worried about their interaction with poorly trained and underfunded doctors through Telemedicine.
Solution
To assure your hesitant new patients, you need to use quality camera equipment and make sure that you have read the patient’s medical record before their visit. You should ensure the availability of good lighting, a clean, and a relatively quiet room where you can keenly listen to your patient’s issues. The use of telehealth technology integrated with an efficient EHR system, can help in your medical practice. Practicing telehealth visits with non-patients before going live will be a bonus point.
2. Healthcare Data Privacy Concerns
Another telemedicine challenge is the access of patient’s data over the internet. It can open a gateway to data security and privacy issues. There are chances of leakage of sensitive health information in the wrong hands that can ultimately make patients insecure. According to an estimate, almost 39% of the patients are concerned about potential data leakage because of telemedicine services.
Solution
As a medical provider, you have to ensure the use of HIPAA-compliant telehealth technology to deliver the utmost patient’s satisfaction. The information accessed through advanced telemedicine services is encrypted according to strict security and privacy policies. As a highly professional medical practice, you can communicate with patients and assure guaranteed safe and secure health information. You also need the patient’s approval prior to recording their video calls. Your patients should know that they are in safe hands.
3. Technical Issues
As a consequence of the pandemic situation created due to COVID-19, everyone is forced to seek medical care through telehealth or Telemedicine. Some patients may get into trouble while having telehealth visits as they are unaware of the technological advancements. A large proportion of the patients are worrisome over the technical issues faced during their telehealth visit.
Solution
You need to develop a user-friendly program for a better patient experience. Do not indulge your platform with unnecessary dropdown menus or ads, but instead opt for a simple, straightforward, and trouble-free platform that ensures easy access for the patients. You should also conduct proper training sessions for your staff about the use of telemedicine equipment to assist the patients who need help.
4. Expensive Technology
One of the patients’ significant concerns is the quality of services they will get in response to the telemedicine service availed. While booking the virtual appointments, the patient may get insecure about the assigned doctor and his capability to provide the utmost quality care you deserve. The majority of new patients are worried about their interaction with poorly trained and underfunded doctors through Telemedicine.
Solution
You might have the option to lessen your expense by selecting bundled services or those that offer a flat fee. It will facilitate you over time as Telemedicine’s utilization continues to grow, ultimately reducing your overall expenses.
5. Lack of Integration
Your workflow can get complicated if the platform you are using for the provision of telemedicine services is not coordinating with the advanced Electronic Health Record (EHR) system. By utilizing the right platform integrated with an advanced EHR system, you can record your established workflow and ensure the implementation of proper documentation set up for your patients’ future e-visits.
Solution
You need to develop a user-friendly program for a better patient experience. Do not indulge your platform with unnecessary dropdown menus or ads, but instead opt for a simple, straightforward, and trouble-free platform that ensures easy access for the patients. You should also conduct proper training sessions for your staff about the use of telemedicine equipment to assist the patients who need help.
Telemedicine is an effective solution that can help in addressing healthcare issues during the pandemic break.
Request a free consultation today if your medical practice is facing telemedicine challenges.