In the era of COVID-19, telehealth has become a must-have service, enabling practices to connect remotely with patients in lieu of in-person appointments.
In 2019, only 11% of consumers used telehealth. But now, as a result of a shift in consumer needs due to the pandemic, 76% report interest in using telehealth, according to a study from McKinsey & Company.
Want to encourage patients to take advantage of your telehealth services? Set your practice up for success by following these three steps:
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Increase awareness of telehealth services
Ensure your current patients — and potential new ones — know your practice offers telehealth.
Here are a few marketing tactics that can drive awareness:
- Add a banner to your website advertising your telehealth services.
- Include telehealth in your list of services on your website and your appointment request page.
- Use your patient messaging solution to spread the word.
- Post on your practice’s social media that virtual visits are available.
- Place telehealth brochures or flyers in patient packets or in waiting rooms.
- Highlight these services in your practice’s newsletter or email communications.
- Expand your reach with targeted ads on social media or search engines like Google.
- Insert information about telehealth in your billing statements.
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Discuss with patients how telehealth can help them
During in-person visits, take time to talk with your patients about telehealth.
Review the kinds of visits that work best with telehealth, the types of telehealth services available (phone or audio/video), times you will offer these services, and the technology needed. Also, reassure patients by explaining the safety and security of virtual visits.
Additionally, be sure they understand telehealth benefits such as time savings, convenient access to care, and — most importantly — avoidance of the risk of exposure to COVID-19 or other transmittable illnesses.
If you have telehealth brochures, share with your patients during the in-person visit. Or direct them to your website to view a telehealth FAQ to learn more.
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Set your objectives and adjust strategies as needed
As with any new initiative, set goals and track them to gauge your success. Your goals could relate to number of telehealth visits achieved in six months, patient satisfaction measured by surveys, or increase in monthly practice revenue.
Tie your goals back to metrics to monitor for any changes. Then, assess your progress and adjust your marketing tactics to reflect what’s working and to better position your practice for telehealth success.
If you set a revenue goal, remember that transparency is key to patient collections, including copays. Ensure that patients understand what they can expect to pay for your telehealth services.
While telehealth can provide an additional revenue stream, your practice must stay current on billing guidelines, including payer timetables for reimbursing telehealth visits. If you need expert billing guidance, find out how Greenway Revenue Services can help.
Innovative solution for a long-term telehealth strategy
Virtual care visits are expected to exceed 1 billion in 2020, compared with an original projection of 36 million visits for 2020, according to Forrester Research.
Don’t miss out on the opportunity to ensure care continuity and provide convenient appointments with virtual visits. As you build a long-term virtual care strategy, consider Greenway Telehealth™, an all-in-one intuitive solution for delivering quality care and improving health outcomes.
Greenway Telehealth™ is designed to meet the needs of providers and patients, with easy one-click entry to audio/video visits and text-based chat. It’s a secure, HIPAA-compliant solution built to grow with your practice. Find out more!
For more information, CLICK HERE to schedule a conversation with a Greenway representative. Or watch our 3-minute overview video HERE.
