Banty Co-Founder and Medical Director, Dr. Richard Tytus, provided the subject matter and direction for this article. The author would like to thank Adam Grant for his editorial assistance in writing the article. Dr. Richard Tytus takes responsibility for the content of the article.
Chances are before you began to implement a telehealth service at your medical clinic, you first weighed out a number of factors. You could have wondered how your staff may adapt to such a different way of conducting patient appointments. You may have even wondered how much of a process it would be to not just get your virtual medicine solution up and running, but also what equipment you would need to make it work.
All of these are valid considerations, but it stands to reason that your biggest concern would be which patients would be most welcoming of online doctor’s appointments. After all, if you do not have enough patients willing to have a live video chat online with you, hosting online doctor visits would not make as much sense.
Fortunately, what’s been discovered over time is that there are a number of patient types who would be willing to have a video call with their doctor. Sure, more could likely be rounded up once they gain a better understanding of online medicine, but targeting these folks first would be a worthwhile endeavour:
Longstanding Patients
Not all relationships in life are meant to last for years, if not decades. Once you get outside of your family and circle of friends, not many lengthy bonds exist. However, many, many patients will do anything in their power to stick with the same family doctor for as long as possible.
Quality doctor-patient relationships are based on trust and understanding. Thus, when you present a longstanding patient with a treatment solution like telemedicine, they will hear you out. These patients already know that you have their best interests in mind and would not purposefully steer them in the wrong direction.
When you first get going with a telehealth solution, turn to these individuals first. Explain how digital health services work and outline the benefits to them. If need be, provide a little technical guidance to ensure they feel immediately comfortable with having an online doctor’s appointment.
Patients Who Have Moved a Greater Distance Away
One of the biggest stresses a patient feels when moving is making the decision whether or not to get a new doctor. Depending on where you reside, it could take several months to be accepted by a new doctor. For patients with constant health concerns, or a disinterest in living life without a doctor, present the online medicine option to them.
As soon as these individuals learn how to see a doctor online their fears of moving and not finding a doctor will be immediately quelled. Sure, they may choose to go forward with a new doctor later on, but in the interim, they will not be stuck without a healthcare professional by their side.
Busy Families
For families, each day of the week can feel like running a marathon. There are work commitments, social obligations, parent-teacher meetings, as well as all of those extracurriculars in which the kids are signed up for.
Since not all types of medical appointments need to be held at a medical clinic, the virtual medicine space will prove itself to be of great use for busy families. Instead of having to rush to a clinic for a minor medical matter, the family can log in to their medical video call from home.
When your medical clinic can offer a care solution that gives parents much more breathing room and the whole family unit an easy healthcare option, it will attract a whole host of families who need help keeping their schedules as straightforward as possible.
