Four months ago, the thought of being able to only talk online with a medical practitioner, like a plastic surgeon or dentist, about a medical concern or surgical procedure as opposed to “face to face” seemed like something out of a movie. However, due to the spread of COVID-19, or the coronavirus, virtual consultations are not only a reality today, they are an alternative that many practices are taking on to continue helping their clients in these unprecedented times.
The role of telemedicine and virtual consultations are becoming increasingly more popular as practices are temporarily closing their offices. In response to the coronavirus pandemic, elective surgeries across the country are being rescheduled and medical practices are no longer available for routine visits like check-ups, consultations, and follow-up appointments. It is important for patients to understand that there are legitimate reasons why physicians are taking these kinds of measures. The cancellations and rescheduling of appointments and procedures are to provide protection to all parties by helping to slow down or even stop the potential spread of the disease among staff and patients. This is also allowing the health care system to have better access to vital resources that are needed to attend to severely ill patients.
Below we discuss the role of telemedicine and virtual consultations and how they are providing a real service for both providers and patients. For practices that are adding virtual consultations until they can open their doors once again, we provide some helpful tips to ensure your consultations are professional, easy to navigate, and efficient.
The concept of telemedicine isn’t new. It actually started back in the 1950s as a select group of practices shared information about patients over the telephone. It provided more of a benefit to rural areas or hard to reach communities where certain doctors weren’t readily available. Telemedicine connected doctors who were working with a patient in one location to specialists who were working in another.
Thanks to advances in technology, telemedicine is now readily available to patients who have online capabilities via smartphones, computers, and tablets through high-quality video transmissions. This means that doctors have access to remotely “treat” or consult with patients in their homes, workplaces, and other medical or assisted living facilities as a viable alternative to in-person visits.
Especially now, it is common to hear the terms telemedicine and telehealth used interchangeably. But there is a difference between the two:
To put it in more simple terms, telemedicine refers specifically to remote clinical services, while telehealth refers to remote non-clinical services.
COVID-19 is impacting all aspects of our world, including the majority of medical practices that have had to shut their doors and cancel elective surgeries. This includes many plastic surgery and cosmetic dental procedures, as well as vision treatments, certain orthopedic procedures, med spa sessions, and anything else deemed not immediately medically necessary. Through the use of electronic communications and software, practices that are offering virtual consultations are able to provide clinical services to patients without an in-person visit. This advanced technology is now being actively used for follow-up visits, management of chronic conditions, managing and prescribing medications, specialist consultations, and a host of other vital services that can be provided remotely via secure video and audio connections.
Many states are under rigorous “shelter at home” orders, which means patients should not leave the safety of their homes, even to attend to medical appointments that aren’t considered vital. The ability to consult with a plastic surgeon, dentist, vision expert or any other type of medical provider gives patients an opportunity to receive expert medical care or advice without leaving their homes and risking exposure to or the actual contraction of coronavirus. Even though the physical location of your practice may be closed, you are still able to consult virtually with your patients, letting them know they are still a priority.
As many of DoctorLogic’s customers are finding out, conducting virtual consultations as an alternative to in-person visits is providing a variety of benefits for both the practice itself as well as the patients who are utilizing the service.
Benefits for medical providers include:
Patients who participate in a virtual consultation with their medical provider benefit from:
A medical practice’s ability to conduct a virtual consultation is an appreciated option by patients who seek advice or treatment. For practices that choose to take on this task, it is important that your virtual sessions are as valuable and informative as a face-to-face, in-person appointment. Your virtual consultation is a great opportunity to build engagement and client loyalty that will continue on after the coronavirus threat has lessened.
Below, DoctorLogic provides some tips to help you hold a successful and productive virtual consultation:
These are uncertain times for industries of all types and sizes. While there is no clear answer about when this pandemic will subside and what business will look like after, there are actions you can take now to continue to provide service to your patients through telemedicine and virtual consultations. You will continue to build your business for the future while providing your patients with a way to talk to you and members of your team in the safety, privacy, and comfort of their own home.
DoctorLogic is actively helping its practice partners set up their websites with the tools they need to communicate that they are offering virtual consultations. Patients can upload photos, request appointment times, and provide in-depth detail about what services they are interested in.
Other COVID-19 Resources:
If you need assistance with your website and how to set up a virtual consultation page, please reach out to us at 855-522-3600 or email sales@doctorlogic.com. We are here to help you with a comprehensive plan of action, helping you succeed now, and of course, after the coronavirus pandemic passes.