As I’ve watched and consulted with companies implementing new telehealth initiatives, I can’t help but feel like I’m watching organizations learn the lessons that nursing had to learn years ago.
I would never pretend that I am qualified to train a physician how to practice medicine; however, I think it’s important to share some of my takeaways from 25 years of developing specialty nursing practices at Telehealth Triage.
C- Suite gives the go ahead for all organizational initiatives and Telemedicine is no different. So that all of the stakeholders involved are fully onboard and committed to the project it is best that the highest level executive communicate reasons you have for implementing telemedicine.
It gives the effort credibility and importance and plain old clout!
This core mission for transitioning needs to be part of your organization’s internal communications; it should drive all metrics and performance goals.
Start by picking only 3 of the following, and for each specify measurable goals:
Telehealth already has amazing benefits: reducing no-shows or late arrivals; eliminating transportation or weather problems; keeping frail patients in the comfort of their homes as well as being able to see more about patients’ home lives. The benefits of telemedicine will continue to grow as it becomes a critical tool for care delivery.
Telehealth is much more than virtual care – telehealth is the practice of medicine via technology.
Some Clinicians are not a match for practicing virtual. Not being co-located with Patients does not satisfy many providers. Unfortunately that is often realized after the fact.
Items worth including in a Telemedicine Job Description:
Listen to HIRING FOR SUCCESS.
Excellent communication requires the ability to establish therapeutic relationships with the caller within 30 seconds.
Understanding and incorporation of principles of Health Literacy
Skilled active listener.
Read and Listen to 8 TIPS TO IMPROVE ACTIVE LISTENING.
Telemedicine improves with practice for both physicians and patients.
Unfortunately, formalized training in telemedicine is not widely offered to physicians-in-training while in medical school.
Even the American Medical Association believes “exposure to and evidence-based instruction in telemedicine's capabilities and limitations at all levels of physician education will be essential to harnessing its potential."
Therefore, a program that encompasses technological navigation, soft skills for therapeutic communication, critical thinking, and any other applicable specifications for your practice needs to be developed and implemented in your organization.
In a nutshell, you should :
Training modules should cover information about your EMR system, the technical skills needed to maintain schedules, entering medical information into charts, and transferring information such as lab results.
Methods include:
Additionally, it's important to offer ongoing/monthly/annual competency testing along with consistent monitoring. If possible, you should provide a comprehensive training/orientation program facilitated by experienced peers or instructors at your hospital or office; if not, your organization may benefit from engaging an outside consultant.
At Keona Health, we have developed a comprehensive telehealth training program that is used successfully by thousands of health care providers. If you’d like to learn more about how we can help you, contact us today.