Why providers should invest in an integrated telehealth solution

Integrated telehealth: better for patients and providers

Conventional meeting software was not designed with healthcare in mind—not even versions marketed as HIPAA-compliant. While useful to facilitate multi-channel video calls in many settings, these platforms don’t directly address the challenges that providers face when providing telehealth, such as excessively complex workflows, time-consuming documentation issues, or patient access barriers. Without the right digital tools to reduce or eliminate these issues and support effective telehealth delivery, the inefficiencies pile up, provider burnout is accelerated, and patients are less likely to feel satisfied with the care they receive.

EHR-integrated telehealth platforms work within a practice’s existing IT framework, making them easier to deploy and scale across multiple service lines and locations. With seamless communication between the telehealth system, EHR, and practice management software, administrative tasks can flow to office staff while clinicians focus on care delivery. And instead of toggling between screens and losing time to inefficient double documentation, providers can keep their focus on patient care where it belongs. 

A well-integrated telehealth platform also prioritizes patient experience. User-friendly features on the patient view aren’t just convenient—they’re critical to ensuring patient satisfaction and reducing barriers to use. Some key features to enhance patient experience include:  

• Compatibility with mobile or desktop devices
• Browser access with no app download required
• One-click access for patients and their informal caregivers or trusted guests
• Waiting room timer to reassure patients that they will be seen

A well-designed patient view and minimal barriers help virtual visits seem more like conventional clinic visits, which supports a strong patient-provider relationship and boosts patient satisfaction.

Accessible telehealth shouldn’t compromise privacy

Without a doubt, an integrated telehealth solution is the most secure way to conduct virtual visits and provide remote care. Security can vary widely across video platforms, and while some may market themselves as HIPAA-compliant, it’s a relatively low bar for video alone, and typically just requires disabling certain sharing features. These small tweaks might mean that a video call service meets basic standards for HIPAA compliance, but they still fall short of the privacy and security advantages available with a purpose-built, EHR-integrated telehealth solution.

Many patients don’t have a sophisticated understanding of the appropriate collection and storage of health data, and providers are ethically—and legally—obligated to do the heavy lifting on their behalf. Non-integrated telehealth solutions, particularly those that were not designed or adapted for healthcare use, may raise numerous concerns, including, but not limited to:

• How often the company installs security patches
• Whether the company offers end-to-end encryption
• Authentication and access for patients and providers
• Whether the web-based application itself is secure

Natively embedded telehealth addresses all these issues and many more. EHR systems are a heavily regulated product, and any associated peripherals and tools must meet the same strict security standards as the EHR itself. EHR-integrated telehealth means that patients and providers alike can feel confident that private health data remains secure.

Clinical and administrative efficiencies that today’s practices need

Jumping between screens to access patient data while trying to conduct a visit wastes time and imposes additional—and unnecessary—cognitive workload on physicians. An integrated solution presents the data in parallel, which allows the physician to focus their effort and attention on the patient, without additional time spent untangling tedious double documentation. 

The efficiencies extend to the front office, as well. A well-designed integrated telehealth solution works within both EHR and practice management software to facilitate seamless patient throughput without any unnecessary steps. Automated billing workflows can pull data directly from the telehealth software and generate clean claims for quicker, easier reimbursement.

A telehealth system should work in conjunction with—not in addition to—existing software and workflows during the entire care process, from scheduling to billing. More than just convenience, it’s a more efficient way to utilize limited staff and resources.

Conventional meeting software or non-integrated telehealth systems may provide face-to-face connection during telehealth visits, but miss the mark when it comes to addressing the clinical, administrative, and security challenges that today’s providers face. EHR-integrated telehealth solutions facilitate smoother virtual visits, with better access to patient information, fewer additional tasks to distract a clinician’s attention, and easier scheduling and billing for front office staff. For patients, an integrated solution translates into better care without unnecessary barriers to access, with high-level security to protect their private information.