Telehealth tips
The use of telehealth has increased dramatically since the beginning of the pandemic. The rates of telehealth visits have remained higher than pre-pandemic levels. While the federal government relaxed many restrictions on telehealth during the public health emergency (PHE), regulations are due to return to pre-pandemic levels. Providers must remember that virtual visits require the same standard of care as in-person visits.
In a recent Medscape article, Dr. Sanjay Gupta offers some essential practice tips for making the most of telepsychiatry virtual visits. While the recommendations are geared towards psychiatric visits, the information is helpful for any physician providing virtual visits to their patients. Tips range from determining where the patient is located at the time of the visit to sending patients instructions in advance and doing a "tech check", especially with older patients who might not be as tech-savvy as younger patients.
Our practice tip Complete Medical Records: Your Best Defense offers valuable information on documenting patient visits, both in person and virtual.