The Public Health Emergency (PHE) and Telehealth have a great combination. For this reason, let’s dive into this blog and learn how a telemedicine provider is helping in PHE.
It should be noted that the laws of telemedicine in your area can differ from those stated below. You should be aware of your local area’s laws. First, let’s understand the PHE before discussing the checklist.
What is PHE?
At the time of the COVID-19 pandemic, PHE was implemented. This is when the healthcare system is overburdened, resulting in the suspension of several norms and regulations.
The main purpose of PHE is to provide clinicians with more knowledge and latitude to meet patient needs better. What is included in this? This includes enabling healthcare professionals like telemedicine doctor to substitute telehealth for in-person appointments.
Nowadays, it’s trending to use telemedicine instead of going for an in-person appointment. Those still using it must understand how HIPAA and other regulations affect their practice.
Final check-off for PHE telehealth
Here are some of the telemedicine provider best practices you can use right away. But before that, always try to check the local laws of your area to determine how they apply to your line of work.
Use HIPAA-compliant telemedicine software
Using FaceTime, Facebook Messenger, or other open platforms won’t be an option for telemedicine calls anymore. As an alternative, look for other video calling software created with the healthcare sector in mind. To be HIPAA-compliant, a telemedicine provider platform has to meet the following requirements:
- Encryption is used to send protected health information.
- There is a Business Associate Agreement (BAA).
Digitally collect patient consent
Few people own printers, and of those that do, a small percentage experience ink shortages or other printer-related problems. Thus, we need a digital method of receiving patient permission because it differs from an in-person visit.
A program like DocuSign can be one option, but a BAA with DocuSign is required. A telehealth platform with integrated permission forms is what you should search for if you choose not to spend anything on services like DocuSign.
Maintain the privacy of your login details
Passing around login details is never advisable. It’s especially critical when dealing with protected health information (PHI). It’s essential to emphasize that every user should maintain the confidentiality of their unique login information. If a team needs telemedicine provider software access, you can explore potential cost savings through group arrangements.
Offering separate telehealth accounts for each staff member has advantages. It lets you assign roles like administrator or provider. These roles enhance security by controlling access to specific information. Some telemedicine platforms even enable call duration tracking for each account.
While single sign-on and two-factor authentication can boost security, HIPAA doesn’t mandate them.Contact us at Prolocums to learn more about a telemedicine doctor.
