As you are keenly aware, interruptions to the healthcare delivery system caused by the global COVID-19 pandemic have resulted in the growth and expansion of telehealth.
Under a special COVID-19 waiver, Medicare will now reimburse for telehealth services regardless of where the beneficiary is located.
While physicians may have been bombarded with information explaining the new coding and billing rules, an important piece of dialogue may be missing – patient engagement in telehealth.
In order for a telehealth visit to be effective, patients must have a basic understanding of telehealth. Other than the obvious, many patients do not understand how telehealth visits are different from in-person appointments. What needs to be explained to patients is how they need to prepare for their telehealth appointment.
Patients need a proactive checklist that explains the technology they need to have so they can effectively communicate with their physician through video and chat. Patients need to understand how to access ZOOM, or the HIPAA-compliant video platform their physician’s practice is using for telehealth appointments. From proper internet access to a government-issued photo ID, patients need to know what they need to prepare.
Ackermann Marketing & PR is poised to create telehealth patient engagement checklists. We can create messaging that simplifies and prepares patients for their telehealth appointments. Please contact us for more information on how we can help physicians communicate to their patients so that healthcare providers can focus on their job, the safe and effective delivery of care.