Page 28 - Telemedicine - Essentials of Virtual Care Delivery Part One

SVMIC Telemedicine: Essentials of Virtual Care Delivery

policy, coding, and payment information as well as other helpful

resources. Before implementing telemedicine in your practice,
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following are four key questions to consider.

What platform will I use to engage with patients at a

distance?

It is important that both patients and providers understand
the capabilities and limitations of the platforms for electronic

communication. When choosing the technology, consider the
availability and cost. There is an infrastructure investment,

particularly if telemedicine is going to be an ongoing service.
Also, there are hidden costs to the physician or medical practice.

Reimbursement has been based on time spent in the visit
delivering healthcare, not time spent assisting patients with the

technology. The setup involved in developing a virtual practice is
generally not reimbursed. Telemedicine may be cost-prohibitive

for some smaller practices if staff spends a great deal of time
with patients trying to help them download an app or get online.

How do I comply with legal requirements when
communicating with patients at a distance?

The short answer is that providers need to be fully cognizant

of federal rules, the regulations in the state(s) where they
are licensed, and the regulations of each jurisdiction from

which a patient is communicating with them. Whether their
communications formally comprise telemedicine or are

governed by other liability frameworks, providers need to be
sure their professional liability insurance covers what they are

doing.

13 https://www.ama-assn.org/practice-management/digital/ama-telehealth-quick-guide

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