A New Standard of ‘Wherever, Whenever’ Healthcare Has Arrived. Here’s How to Adapt.

Now that consumers have more control over how and where they access healthcare, providing telehealth and virtual care solutions is more important than ever.

Consumers want to be able to choose options that flex with their needs — that may include retail and direct-to-consumer solutions or connecting directly with their primary care provider. Sometimes an in-person appointment may be preferred or required, while other times, patients want to save time and money by using high-quality telehealth options. 

As more healthcare organizations look to build long-term telehealth and virtual care solutions, reliability, consistency, and quality are key to improving the patient experience. But driving adoption among providers and building trust with consumers is just as important. Here are a few things to keep in mind when choosing a solution:

When the right technology meets the right application, it becomes nearly invisible to end users. That’s what providers and patients want: a telehealth solution that “just works” and feels as comfortable and intuitive as something they’ve been using for years. The ability to integrate and customize plays a key role in creating that experience. 

Look for a telehealth solution that has the ability to integrate with your EHR or HIT system, or allows for integration with open platforms through APIs, the latter of which provides flexibility and customization opportunities. Seamless integration of video into your current EHR enables providers to focus on practicing medicine without fiddling with controls or toggling between platforms.  

From patient education to population health, virtual care encompasses much more than patient-provider appointments. Coordinated care teams can easily assemble and discuss a patient’s course of treatment without being in the same room. Remote monitoring can help track the patient’s health and allow providers to quickly touch base with them over video. Virtual visits can also allow family members to be more involved in their loved one’s care.

Using a multipurpose video platform can even lead to greater connection and information sharing within clinical and administrative settings. Providers can consult with global experts and continue their medical education with virtual training, certification programs, and conferences. Hospital administrators can convene staff virtually across multiple departments and buildings for routine announcements and emergency communications. 

By looking beyond clinical applications for virtual platforms, healthcare providers and organizations can easily bridge the gap between the clinic and business. With one platform serving both the business and the consumer — and providing the same ubiquitous experience — organizations can foster important relationships with their patients, conveniently coordinate care, and communicate more efficiently than ever.

The past two years have taught us so much about virtualizing the healthcare industry. Far from a pandemic solution, telehealth and video communications implemented across the continuum of care make healthcare more accessible, convenient, and affordable.

A focus on innovation and continuous improvement is crucial for an up-leveled patient experience. Consumer needs and demand can change overnight — a telehealth solution that continues to listen to clients and enhances its offerings to meet the needs of the industry will help you stay ahead of the curve. 

Learn more about what Zoom is doing to enable virtual and hybrid healthcare.

A version of this article was originally published in Electronic Health Reporter. Read the full article here.