9 Best Practices for Telehealth
/By Barby Ingle, PNN Columnist
Telehealth can make life easier for chronic pain patients. We spend so much of our time and energy traveling to and from provider appointments, paying for gas or public transportation, and then sitting in waiting rooms for our appointments to begin.
Being able to talk with providers over the phone or online without leaving home is not only more convenient, the “virtual” visits greatly reduce the risk of exposure to COVID-19 and other communicable diseases – an important point for patients with compromised immune systems.
If you’re new to telehealth or wondering how to make use of it, here are nine best practices I’ve learned.
Be strategic in your appointment time slot. It is best if you can schedule it earlier in the day because providers are often less rushed and can spend more time with you.
Before your appointment, you should take time to assess your needs. Should a loved one or caregiver participate in the call? They could have some significant information about your health or have a question you didn’t think of.
If your appointment is online, your provider will send you a login link or they will call you through their online platform. Some doctors work with telehealth companies that provide their patients with health monitoring tools, such as blood pressure checks. Practice using the technology before your appointment.
If you will be on camera with your provider, do a test with a family member or friend. Make sure that you are in a well-lit, quiet location, and there is nothing in the background that is distracting or inappropriate.
Telehealth may seem a little less formal, but remember to stay focused on what your needs are, just as you would when visiting a doctor in their office.
Patients may benefit if they have access to their online patient portal information. I utilize this feature often with my primary care provider and his staff. During my last appointment, he said that he prefers that I text him directly if the situation is more urgent.
I have a thick case file and keep my health records organized. You should too. Make sure to keep track of your telehealth appointments, billing and insurance payments, just as you do with in-person visits.
If you struggle with new technology or this type of communication, be sure to let the provider know. Maybe your internet is not fast enough, your wi-fi not strong enough, or you don’t have the right app on your phone. Ask for help or other options.
Just in case the technology fails, have a backup plan. One of my providers was a little late and called me two minutes after our scheduled time. He apologized and said his last appointment went longer than expected. In those two minutes I realized I didn’t know what to do. Was I supposed to call him? Was he going to call me? Did he give me a link? Having that information on hand will save you some stress in an already stressful moment.
Not all healthcare needs can be addressed via telehealth. Some prescriptions, such as opioids, may require a visit to the office. So will some medical exams. A combination of in-person, phone and online appointments may be best for you.
Barby Ingle lives with reflex sympathetic dystrophy (RSD), migralepsy and endometriosis. Barby is a chronic pain educator, patient advocate, and president of the International Pain Foundation. She is also a motivational speaker and best-selling author on pain topics. More information about Barby can be found at her website.
