Here's how you can broaden your reach as a physician using telemedicine and virtual care platforms.

Embracing Telemedicine and Virtual Care In today’s evolving healthcare landscape, telemedicine and virtual care are essential for physicians to broaden their reach and enhance patient care. These technologies provide accessible, convenient services, breaking geographical barriers and ensuring continuous care. Ensure secure data exchange and stay updated on digital health trends. Building patient trust and offering personalized, empathetic virtual consultations are crucial. Embrace telemedicine to provide top-notch care, regardless of location.

I totally agree with this opinion Being familiar with these technologies doesn’t only help physicians to give exceptional experience to their patients but also allow them to actively participate in decision making processes and vendor selections which increase the physician engagement and autonomy

Utilizing telemedicine in your practice can help fill a need, expand your patient base and likely increase your revenue. The need for accessible healthcare is still high especially in rural areas. It's much more feasible now w/ current technology to integrate virtual care in a safe and efficient way. I use a company that matches the physician's software needs with vendors for free! You can also ask other MDs & practice managers which telemed tech they recommend. Then ask those vendors if their platform is HIPAA-compliant, will it interface w/ your current EMR/billing software and will they provide training & on-going live support during your work hours? A little research now might just lead to a telehealth option with long-term benefits!

Telemedicine can and does increase continuity and improve connections between physician and patient. In medical school we learn 85-95% of a diagnosis comes from taking a history. Telemedicine allows conversation, photos, videos and is an excellent way to reach patients located in more rural areas, saving time, expense, and expediting treatments. There are certainly limitations, and often an in person exam is needed. Practicing telemedicine is a learned skill, and when done effectively is an excellent adjunct to any clinical practice! First and foremost, clinical experience is paramount and knowing what you don’t know and when to send in is an absolute must!

This is particularly true when you practice in a border city or have a referral practice. When you provide virtual care for out of state patients, the laws of the patient's location, NOT yours, apply. I am not sure which / if any EHR highlight who is amenable for virtual visits (mine doesn't). This creates a potential legal issue and an artificial burden, and denies qualified patients access to valuable care.

An issue I’ve seen physicians and practitioners run into, especially with increasing social media presence beyond local reach, is patients from a variety of states or countries seeking care from providers they find on social media. While telehealth is a wonderful resource for patients and providers alike, patients are not always aware that they cannot receive medical care across state lines unless their provider is also licensed in that state. Out of state insurance coverage also varies and adds a layer of complexity. There are many things to consider with this topic in our world of increasing information, connection, telehealth, and medical providers having an increasing social media presence. How will this evolve? Thoughts?

As a physician, I can broaden my reach and improve patient care by leveraging telemedicine and virtual care platforms for patient education, conducting virtual workshops and webinars, sharing informative videos and articles, providing personalized health coaching, enhancing patient engagement and empowerment, and expanding my reach beyond geographical boundaries, ultimately improving health outcomes and patient satisfaction.

As a physician, I find patient education to be one of the most critical aspects of integrating telemedicine into our practice. Many patients may feel hesitant about virtual care due to unfamiliarity or concerns about its effectiveness. It is our responsibility to educate them about the numerous benefits and capabilities of telemedicine to encourage its adoption. We need to explain how telemedicine can provide convenient, timely, and often cost-effective healthcare. Highlighting the ease of accessing medical care from the comfort of their home can alleviate a lot of their initial apprehensions. Additionally, informing patients about the robust security measures in place to protect their health information is crucial for building trust.

Patient education is critical to dispelling misconceptions and unfounded concerns regarding the value of telemedicine in the delivery of patient care. Many times patients assume that a hands-on approach is a must for proper care to be delivered. While a thorough physical exam is needed in certain circumstances, there are many situations for which a telemedicine consultation can prove to be just as effective, in addition to being convenient. Education is paramount to help patients navigate which type of visit is appropriate. This is best achieved when the physician and practice staff are all on board and regularly remind patients of their options for accessing care.

This is an easy one. In many cases, there is no need for a clinic visit and the travel time/expense/wait even for patients who live close by. The vast majority of patients who are familiar with the designated Apps adopted by their health systems prefer and are fairly capable of conducting such visits. In my case as a hand surgeon, I preplan by ordering x-rays the day before when needed and ask select patients to send me photos of their hands in advance. I also schedule their visits in the morning so that both parties can arrange for clinic visits that same afternoon if necessary. Patient selection is of utmost importance and practically eliminates unplanned clinic vists.

?Devices and Wearables: Use devices like blood pressure monitors, glucose meters, and wearables (e.g., Fitbits, Apple Watches) to track patients’ health metrics remotely. ?Secure Messaging: Use secure messaging systems within your telemedicine platform for patient communication. Avoid using unsecured methods like regular email. ?Encryption: Ensure all data exchanged online is encrypted to protect against breaches. ?Continued Education: Regularly attend webinars, online courses, and conferences on digital health and telemedicine to stay updated on the latest trends and technologies. ?Professional Networks: Join professional networks and forums to exchange knowledge with other healthcare providers.

Be open to suggestions and criticisms. If you don’t develop a thick skin to receive these, you would not be able to persevere.

The only thing I can add here is that, contrary to my expectations, virtual care does not eliminate loss to follow up. ????♂? When patients do not perceive the importance of follow up or unexpected things happen to them, they skip their visits even if all it takes is logging on their phone! I wonder if this has to do with copays. Most of my virtual follow ups are postop and do not incur copays, but do patients know that? ??