In order to get the most out of telemedicine, it’s important to recognize the wide range of services that can be delivered remotely. Whether it’s urgent care, simple follow-up care or counseling, telemedicine is a convenient method of care delivery that gets doctors paid.
Manage chronic conditions
Treatment plan management
Whether it’s for weight-loss, depression or condition-specific dietary changes, counseling patients and making sure they’re compliant with treatment plans is a great use of telemedicine. It helps physicians maintain convenient, face-to-face interactions while helping patients sustain important behavior changes.
Medication management
Patients with chronic conditions often require frequent medication adjustments and refill consultations. Both of these services can be efficiently rendered through video-based telemedicine.
Medicare CCM Program
The new Chronic Care Management Program reimburses providers $42.50 per month for 20 minutes of clinical staff time spent on patients with two or more chronic conditions. In a year, practitioners can earn upwards of $200,000 in additional revenue. Telemedicine is ideal for taking advantage of the CCM program.
Treat minor urgent care needs
Allergies and sinus infections
When patients have allergies or sinus flare-ups, in-person diagnoses are usually unnecessary. Telemedicine allows doctors to address these conditions quickly and conveniently. A simple video visit is enough to diagnose the condition and prescribe the necessary treatment.
Colds and flu-like symptoms
When cold and flu season comes around, doctors’ offices are usually inundated with sick patients. By using video-based telemedicine, physicians can diagnose and triage patients remotely without putting the rest of the office at risk.
Other urgent care uses
UTIs, yeast infections (especially if they’re frequent) and some types of upper respiratory infections can also be diagnosed and treated through video-based telehealth. In many of these situations, telemedicine is the best solutions for both practitioners and patients, assuming no scheduled drugs or controlled substances are being prescribed.
Perform routine follow-up care
Follow-up on wellness exams
It’s always best to follow up on wellness exams, especially if there are potential signs of illness. Instead of calling patients or dragging them back into the office, have a face-to-face conversation with them over secure video chat. Preventative medicine is the name of the game in today’s healthcare landscape.
Adjust medications
Allow your patients to request medication prescriptions and adjustments over telemedicine. Practitioners are still paid, and patients enjoy the convenience and efficiency of secure, face-to-face video visits.
Review adnormal lab results
Whether reviewing blood tests, STD screenings or imaging results, face-to-face discussions are always the best way to handle sensitive test results. Videoconferencing allows for a meaningful face-to-face encounter without the inconvenience of having patients drive all the way to the office for a brief appointment.
Counseling services
Weight-loss management
People in weight-loss management programs often need medication adjustments, exercise and counseling services. Give patients the best opportunity to succeed by offering frequent, video-based telehealth appointments.
Mental health services
Easily perform evaluations and psychotherapy over secure video chat. Reduce patient attrition by allowing them to receive services in the comfort of their own home.
Smoking cessation
People in smoking cessation programs need frequent follow-up care in order to stay motivated and on track with difficult behavior changes. Telemedicine allows patients to stay engaged with their treatment plan while eliminating barriers to care such as lack of transportation.
Patients are loving telemedicine visits
They’re more engaged in their healthcare
When patients get busy, they tend to miss appointments. Missed follow-ups lead to lower healthcare engagement and lapses in treatment plans. With telemedicine, it’s easy to maintain patient engagement. The end result is healthier, more satisfied patients.
They won’t have to pay for a sitter or use PTO
You may have a modern office with HD televisions and the trendiest magazines, but patients still have to take time out of their day to see you. This often means they have to hire a sitter, leave during their lunch break or use PTO. With telemedicine, patients don’t have to do any of these things.
They get to skip the drive
No one likes sitting in traffic or driving around in circles trying to find a parking spot. With secure video chat, patients don’t have to mess with either of these. In the end, they save time and money.