DO:
- Ensure that both you and the patient are conducting the visit in a quiet location to avoid distractions or interruptions
- Whether you are conducting the telemedicine visit from your office or your home, be sure that both you and your environment appear professional; ensure that nothing your patient can see or hear is messy or distracting
- Handle every patient encounter in a professional manner while remaining personable and approachable; maintain “eye contact” by looking directly into the camera as much as possible, and don’t forget to smile!
- Remain compliant with HIPAA regulations by ensuring that your patient is not privy to any potentially identifying information about other patients
- Verify that the patient can safely be treated via a telemedicine visit, based on known symptoms and conditions, including co-morbidities that may be unrelated to the reason for the current visit
DO NOT:
- Depend on the technology without conducting a trial run and having a backup plan in place in case of equipment or internet connection failure
- Begin the visit until you have educated the patient and obtained informed consent both for the visit itself and for the telemedicine process (review benefits, risks, and alternatives)
- Forget to verify that the visit conforms to state and federal regulations with respect to your location and the current geographic location of the patient
- Keep the patient waiting; be prompt!
- Use medical jargon or assume that the patient and/or caregivers understand the information you are trying to convey
If you’re interested in case-based education for healthcare providers related to telemedicine, please contact us at info@med-iq.com.
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