It is understood that adopting a telemedicine solution at a medical clinic can at first be a bit of a culture shock for some doctors. They have become used to discussing medical matters with patients in-person and don't feel comfortable with the idea of working within a virtual clinic.
These doctors will feel this way for different reasons, none of which should be discounted. That said, there are pathways in which doctors can travel in order to build comfort and familiarity with telemedicine solutions.
According to findings from McKinsey, 57% of healthcare providers "now view telemedicine more favourably than before the pandemic," while 64% confirm they are currently "more comfortable using telemedicine."
Dr. Richard Tytus, Co-Founder and Medical Director for telemedicine solution Banty Inc., believes these percentages can be increased if doctors choose to:
Select a quality telemedicine solution: Banty Virtual Clinic has been designed to provide doctors with an easy-to-use, secure telemedicine solution. When a doctor signs up for it, they get to create a custom Banty room address (i.e., Banty.com/MyClinic). This is the only URL that a doctor will need to use in order to access an appointment. Conversely, that link is what the patient would type in to visit with their doctor. From a security standpoint, Banty Virtual Clinic is HIPAA/PHIPA compliant for virtual medicine, and is end-to-end encrypted to ensure all appointments remain private and confidential
Build familiarity over time: Even if a doctor is using an easy telemedicine solution like Banty Virtual Clinic, it will take time to develop a familiarity with it. During this period of time, the doctor should allow themselves time to build an understanding and working knowledge of the telemedicine solution's features and functionality. Yes, there could be growing pains at the outset, but those will quickly subside
Have a pilot project with patients: Before making telemedicine services available to all patients, a doctor can instead opt to first coordinate a pilot project with select patients. These individuals should be informed upfront that they will play an integral role in helping the doctor's office develop its telemedicine service strategy and processes. Having these 'test' appointments will take some of the pressure off of a doctor who is venturing into telemedicine for the first time
Be smart about scheduling: Once the pilot project has been completed and virtual visits become a regular clinic feature, the doctor and their team should devise a policy regarding when to host online appointments. This will not just help keep everyone organized, but it will also make it easier for the doctor to consistently know when virtual appointments will be happening, versus in-person ones
"I have been conducting telemedicine appointments for a long time now," adds Dr. Richard Tytus. "Over time, I've come to learn that with the right strategies and expectations in place, implementing such a treatment option can be beneficial for all involved."
Thanks to the Troy Messenger for this coverage of Banty!
