Telemedicine is revolutionizing the way we access healthcare. According to a Harvard Business Review article, telemedicine makes healthcare more equitable and accessible to over 89% of US adults, especially those in medically underserved communities. For this reason, experts believe telemedicine should remain open for patients and further expand its reach to provide healthcare services to more people at a lower cost. As a result, you can expect that demand for telemedicine will increase.
As a healthcare professional you can address this demand by establishing your own telemedicine clinic. In fact, our post on ‘5 Traits Why Physicians Make Great Entrepreneurs’ shares that doctors already have the necessary skills to start their own businesses. This includes management and problem-solving skills honed from managing and deciding on health solutions in a hospital setting. As such, setting up your own telemedicine clinic shouldn't be too challenging if you want to get started.
To help you along, we'll discuss four things you need to do before starting a telemedicine clinic:
Understand local telemedicine laws
On top of the major medical laws and regulations, healthcare professionals who want to practice medicine online need to follow additional rules. These rules can vary widely from one state to another, which is why it's vital that you look them up beforehand. For instance, Washington state has an audio-only telehealth law, which requires that payers only reimburse providers at the same rate as in-person care if the consultation is delivered via audio technology alone. In some cases, states do not permit healthcare providers to see a patient for the first time via a virtual visit or prescribe controlled substances, like Adderall, during a telehealth appointment. So before you start to operate, make sure that you know all the telemedicine regulations in your area.
Choose licensed staff
You and your staff members must have the appropriate state licenses and training to practice virtually. Such training includes lessons on navigating platforms for telemedicine consultations and showing proper virtual bedside manners. Suppose you live outside Ohio and wish to employ nurse practitioners to treat patients from that state. In that case, you'll need to consider that remote nurse practitioners in Ohio have to undergo additional training to earn a license there—specifically by taking a one-year course in an approved school in the state and passing the NCLEX-PN exam. Meanwhile, if you're an out-of-state healthcare worker in Florida, you must register with the Florida Department of Health before practicing. Though the requirements vary, they guarantee that patients receive the best virtual care possible.
Ensure patients feel safe
Even if it’s online, your patients should feel safe when attending virtual consultations. There are a few ways you can do so. If you’re working from home, it’s best to have a dedicated working space where you won’t be disturbed. When securing patient privacy through technology, be sure you’re using a secure wireless network and that your equipment is regularly updated with the latest anti-malware and antivirus applications. Once you open your clinic, you can also inform your patients before each session that their appointments are not recorded, that no one else will overhear your conversations, and that your internet connection is secure and cannot be breached. All these strategies can help make your clinic a safe space for patients.
Select HIPAA-compliant software
When choosing software for your telemedicine clinic, select those that adhere to the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA). Aside from being reliable healthcare platforms, they guarantee that your patient’s health information is protected and will not be disclosed without their consent. You can also use Cisco Webex or Zoom for Healthcare for video conferencing applications since they’re both HIPAA-compliant products. And if you’re looking for a HIPAA-compliant text messaging platform for your phone, you can install OhMD, which allows you to directly send and receive intake forms, surveys, images, and files with your patients.
