Uber. Walmart Grocery. Amazon. It’s 2018 and convenience is the name of the modern game. Both you and your patients have become accustomed to shopping, banking, and keeping up with friends and family via apps, social media, and video conferencing. It’s no surprise that medicine is moving in the same direction: Telehealth is expected to reach a global market of over $30 billion by 2020. Should you get on the telehealth bandwagon? It really depends on your preferences and your practice. Here are 3 pros and 3 cons to consider.
Pros—Telehealth can help you:
- Increase medical access for those with mobility issues or people living in rural areas. As long as patients have a reliable Internet connection and a smartphone, they can “see the doctor.”
- Get paid for things you’re already doing for free. You probably spend part of your day making patient calls and answering secure messages. Why not get paid for your hard work? Patients will appreciate not having to come in for services, such as medication adjustments, that can be done over the phone.
- Ensure continuity by making yourself the physician of choice for patients who may otherwise utilize a generic telehealth service. And when you refer specialists from within your virtual office, you’ll ensure you see test results and are able to follow up with any prescribed specialist care.
Cons—Telehealth challenges include:
- Technology setup and training. Building a telemedicine IT infrastructure takes time and money, and there may be state and federal privacy and informed consent guidelines you’ll need to comply with. You’ll also need a quiet space where you can conduct your virtual exams without interfering background noise.
- Reimbursement issues. Though many reimbursement challenges are being ironed out as payors become accustomed to the service, you may still have to invest time and energy to obtain reimbursement for telehealth visits.
- Lack of personal connection. This is especially a concern for new patients whom you haven’t seen before. Telehealth may work best with established patients with whom you already have a treatment history.
As patients learn more about the convenience of telehealth, they may migrate away from health providers who don’t offer virtual services. It’s worth investigating whether integrating telehealth into your practice is right for you. For telehealth to succeed, it must be easy for your patients and work with your practice.