What is preventing your Patients from using Telemedicine?

In the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, Telemedicine EMR Software services emerged as a convenient platform for patients to receive remote care. The virus has provided interesting insights into the future of healthcare, many hospitals and providers have adapted digital tools to curb the spread of the virus and enhance the patient care process. However there are always two sides to the coin, and healthcare organizations must delve deeper into the weaknesses and barriers to virtual visits.

There are a few barricades that patients face when it comes to receiving care through online sessions. It is vital that providers and healthcare systems pinpoint the barriers and then overcome these challenges so patients can receive the care they deserve during the second wave of the pandemic.

3 Common barriers faced by patients when using the telemedicine platform

Stable and high-speed internet – High-speed internet is the fundamental need for a virtual session between the healthcare provider and the patient. When connectivity issues arise then a telemedicine visit can be interrupted and even halt. Let’s look at the two reasons that a person may not have high-speed broadband internet. The patient lives in the outskirts or rural areas and don’t have access to good internet connectivity. The second reason is the issue of affordability to high-speed internet.
Not every patient is tech-savvy – It is important to understand that not every person is comfortable enough to use technology. Some patients may not have access to a reliable laptop or a smartphone to receive care remotely. Providers should make sure that the technology is easy and intuitive enough to be used by non-tech-savvy patients. Fortunately, these obstacles and patient hesitations can be resolved by using a platform that is simple with some handy instructions to keep patients comfortable and their reluctances at bay. The person’s comfort level with technology cannot be determined by their age-group some young people might be hesitant in using digital tools as well. It is advised that you select a user-friendly telemedicine EMR software with an intuitive interface.
Insurance coverage – One last consideration is do your insurers cover the insurance coverage for telemedicine sessions? Some payers were initially reluctant to reimburse many telemedicine visits but now Medicare and Medicaid allow more care via technology platforms. Medicare made a few changes to telemedicine in 2019, Medicare telehealth services are available for diagnosis and evaluation of an acute stroke regardless of your location. Medicare now also covers E-visits.

Conclusion –

As the expansion of telemedicine software solutions continues providers, healthcare organizations, the federal government, and other stakeholders must collaborate to make sure patients receive remote care opportunities via this powerful platform. If your practice wants to extend their telemedicine offering and get the right set of tools to enhance care through video sessions then these telemedicine EMR software vendors can be considered for the right solutions for your patients.