The critical role of telemedicine and its ability to supply safe access to health care during the COVID-19 pandemic cannot be overstated. The pandemic catapulted us into an era of virtual care. It cemented telemedicine as an equitable means for accessible health care. The entire virtual care industry will only grow and evolve with time. 

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Telemedicine is so prevalent that it’s become a dominant means for patients to visit their medical practitioners. Numbers bear this out. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) reported massive increases in the use of telehealth that maintained healthcare access during the COVID-19 Pandemic. In 2019, approximately 840,000 Medicare visits were conducted through telehealth. In 2020, that number skyrocketed to 52.7 million. 

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Telemedicine is not only a convenient method to provide health care access, it’s now the most efficient and safe model for a private practice to manage its clients. 

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Understanding telemedicine’s importance to modern clinical care is the first step toward selecting the right platform for your private practice. Prioritizing the protection of patient health information and identifying some of the most common telemedicine tools will also give your private practice the structure it needs to support your clients. Private practice managers should also consider selecting a telemedicine tool that is convenient for patients to use.

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What is telemedicine? 

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Telemedicine, aka virtual care, is the means to allow clients to receive clinical support through technological platforms. The ability to communicate with your doctor through a protected platform versus a real-life, in person visit is what sets telemedicine apart from traditional doctor visits. 

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Virtual care is now a standard practice for clinicians. It is an efficient and effective way to meet directly with clients, learn about a patient’s condition, communicate information  and diagnose possible solutions or treatments. 

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Virtual care is by no means a solution to a medical emergency. However, especially during the pandemic, when social distancing was touted as a way to stop the spread, virtual care emerged as an effective measure to allow private practices to continue giving treatment to patients while protecting their health and safety. 

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Virtual care is also a proven preventative care platform. Studies show that access to a virtual care provider can reduce the need to visit the emergency room. 

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While telemedicine has its advantages, one of its biggest challenges is ensuring patient privacy as outlined in the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA). It’s critical when storing a patient's Protected Health Information (PHI) that you use a platform with a Business Associates Agreement (BAA). The BAA is a written contract that specifies a clinician’s responsibilities to protect PHI that is disclosed to a business associate. Your practice will require a BAA for all PHI, be it for telemedicine visits or payment processing and more. 

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Telemedicine platforms

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While the COVID-19 pandemic brought about a revolution in telemedicine, it also spawned a demand for platforms and services that were secure and convenient to use. Some of those options include: 

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Doxy.me: Doxy.me has earned a loyal following due to its free, basic version that allows practitioners to get started without any software installation. Its unlimited audio and video minutes/sessions, personalized room URL and basic waiting room, patient queue and two-way communication features are also a big draw. Paid subscription upgrades include HD video, waiting room passcodes, screen sharing, payment processing and custom branding (with a premium subscription). 

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ZOOM for Healthcare: Now a global video conferencing brand, Zoom for Healthcare is another HIPAA compliant option that caters to all virtual care practitioners. Zoom for Healthcare has a mammoth share of the virtual care market and continues to grow after becoming a trusted platform for all industries during the COVID-19 pandemic. 

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EHR telehealth solutions: There are a number of electronic health record (EHR) vendors that provide integrated telehealth solutions. Private practices can also shop around for third-party telehealth vendors that integrate with a practice’s EHR. Integrating an existing EHR with a telehealth platform is important to reduce administrative tasks, improve workflows and provide better treatment for patients. 

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Introducing Ease Video

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All of the aforementioned platforms provide ample features and resources to help a private practice dive right into virtual care. Ease Video, part of the Ease practice management suite, offers everything mentioned above while working seamlessly with other Ease products. 

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With Ease Video, simple virtual care integration will allow your private practice to serve patients quickly and securely. Create virtual appointments with custom names, urls, and practice branding capabilities to make each visit a unique experience. 

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Ease Video is fully HIPAA-compliant. You and your clients can enter each scheduled appointment knowing that all PHI is safe and secure. 

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Ease Video integrates seamlessly with Ease Cal, allowing the private practice calendar manager to embed appointment links on a clinician’s appointment schedule. One click and you’re there for your next patient. 

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Telemedicine is here to stay

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Now and forevermore, private practices will depend on telemedicine to service clients safely and efficiently. Utilizing the most advanced virtual care tools will keep your practice on track and give your patients the best options for health and wellness. Make sure the tools you choose will be safe, secure, and implemented with ease.