COVID-19 is hit the world hard and has put immense pressure on economies and the healthcare world. Governments and healthcare authorities are finding out new and proactive ways to tackle the virus by providing opportunities for care to their patients. Independent practices and smaller clinics are experiencing a loss in revenue as patients are refraining from visiting the doctor’s office. Hospitals and clinics in the US are deploying Telemedicine EMR Software solutions to tackle this issue and help their patients receive remote care. Telemedicine is the perfect answer to the COVID-19 pandemic as it has made it possible for providers and patients to connect in these uncertain and trying times.
Telemedicine and COVID-19
Telemedicine solutions help to deal with the COVID-19 pandemic in the following two ways;
- The robust technology facilitates patients with COVID-19 symptoms to connect with their doctor through virtual sessions safely. The platform keeps healthcare staff and patients safe from catching the contagious virus while making sure patients receive the best quality of care from the comfort of their homes.
- Patients having underlying health conditions such as cancer and breathing issues can be monitored remotely. They don’t have to compromise on their health by visiting the clinic for their ongoing care.
In response to the pandemic, practices are quickly deploying telemedicine solutions to extend care to their patients and help them stay in the business. But how can practices ensure they are selecting the best telemedicine software technology?
How to find the best telemedicine software solution for your practice?
Practices should be well aware of their needs before selecting a Telemedicine EMR Software for their practice. To make your selection process simple we have created a list that will help you buy the right telemedicine technology for your medical practice.
- Assess your needs – Your practice should identify all the necessary features and tools they want in the software system that matches the specific needs of your practice. These features may include; HIPAA Compliant video conferencing, image sharing, online appointment scheduling, and E-prescribing.
- Get ready with a financial plan – Your practice must plan a budget for deploying telemedicine technology. Telemedicine is a valuable tool and your practice can’t go without this virtual solution. Most of the Telemedicine EMR Software vendors are cloud-based and require you to pay a monthly fee for the services provided.
- Narrow down top software vendors – In a crisis, you don’t have the time of the world to go over every software vendor in the telemedicine market. You need to narrow down your list of contenders in terms of ease of use, functionality, cost-effectiveness, and user support. After making a list you can strike the best decision by reading authentic user reviews or consulting your peers if they are using the services of a particular telemedicine software vendor. You can also schedule product demos to see how the software system works. During these demos, you can ask questions related to their customer support, training opportunities for new users, and integration options.
- Evaluate and strike the decision – Now you are in a good position to assess the 5 software products. The one that meets most of your needs and provides the best features should be your ultimate choice.
The best telemedicine software integrates with your current software system
If you want your new Telemedicine EMR Software system to launch without any issues then it is important that the technology seamlessly integrates with your existing Electronic Medical Records (EMR) Software and Billing system. By easy integration with your EHR Software system duplication of work will be eliminated and workflow efficiencies can prevail. When your billing and telemedicine software talk to each other then your practice will be able to precisely code telehealth appointments and submit claims quickly.
Telemedicine is here to stay
A survey conducted in February revealed that patients prefer practices and healthcare providers that offer telemedicine solutions and virtual care as compared to practices that don’t. So if you want to stay in practice and continue to provide the best care to your patients you should get started with telemedicine services right away.
