Although telemedicine has been used by care professionals for decades, it has only gained real prominence since the pandemic began to rage. The ability for patients to see and speak with their doctor over the phone or via video conferencing has made it possible for treatment plans to be safely monitored, progress recorded, and concerns addressed as soon as they arise. If you have not already integrated virtual visits into your practice, there is no better time than the present to learn more about choosing the best telehealth payment provider.
So, what is a telehealth payment provider?
To practice digital medicine, you must have a way to communicate with your patients virtually. Moreover, you need to have a secure way to accept their payments and store their personal health information that complies with the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (HIPAA). With the rise of telehealth have come numerous platforms that make all of this possible.
How to select the platform thatā€™s right for your practice.
You may have spent years studying your health specialty, but that certainly doesnā€™t mean that you are also an IT professional. You need a telehealth platform that you, your staff, and your patients can use without extensive training or difficulty. As you review your options, look for the following characteristics.
- Ease of navigation. The system should make it simple for you, your staff, and your patients to search for information. Donā€™t invest in a package without receiving a live demonstration of its capabilities. During this session, you can learn whether it is compatible with your other systems and meets your practiceā€™s needs.
- Advanced security. Keeping your patientsā€™ sensitive health data safe from hackers must be your top priority. Be sure the platform you invest in is HIPAA certified and that the vendor has put a business associate agreement in place to ensure that sensitive information remains private.
- Mobile access. One of the main benefits of telehealth is that you can conduct your virtual visits from anywhere. Partner with a company that allows you to take full advantage of this capability with a feature-rich telemedicine app. With it, you can pull up patient data, schedule appointments, access payment records, and correspond with clients without ever needing to be in your physical office.
- Top-tier customer support. If you have questions about your telehealth payment provider or the platform in general, you cannot afford to have your concerns ignored or delayed. When your system goes down or you experience other serious issues, you need immediate support from knowledgeable professionals to get you up and running with minimal interruption and stress to your waiting patients.
Even if the pandemic recedes, it is quite likely that telemedicine will remain popular. By integrating it into your practice, you can expand the scope of your offerings, serve hard-to-reach patients, and address medical concerns quickly and conveniently while also adding to your bottom line. With the right telehealth payment provider on your team, both you and your patients will thrive!
