Telemedicine and the Future
By Andrew Bundy
COVID-19 has led to the rise of telemedicine, and current trends indicate that the service will not go away when the pandemic finally ends. Much like work-from-home options are making employees rethink the cubicle, telemedicine is making patients rethink the trip to the medical center.
The Rise of the Online Medicine
Telemedicine is offering some sort of medical service over the phone or internet. For almost a century, patients were used to getting information from their doctors over the phone.
Now, patients can get test results over text or email. Most medical practices now have e-platforms or “portals” for patents to access and manage their medical care. The idea of using video conferencing for doctor appointments is not new, but the explosion of use has made it seem like a new phenomenon. This is especially good for rural or poor communities, where access to healthcare is traditionally lacking.
This, of course, leads to concerns with HIPAA, which states minimum requirements for accessing and using telehealth, including electronic protected health information (ePHI):
Only authorized users should have access to ePHI.
A system of secure communication should be implemented to protect the integrity of ePHI.
A system of monitoring communications containing ePHI should be implemented to prevent accidental or malicious breaches.
The ubiquity of communication programs, such as Zoom and Google Meets, the first reaction of a healthcare provider might be to send a Zoom link and sit back and relax, but that may be the wrong decision.
Even with HIPAA’s minimum requirements, some basic services are not HIPAA compliant. However, many electronic health record systems are advancing to offer telehealth services, which can help communities meet their telehealth needs.
The Concern for Safety
If HIPAA is the main concern, a simple way to make sure that communication is secure is by signing a Business Associate Agreement. For example, Google has a BAA that makes sure the emails on its platform are not being scanned by its AI. In addition, they have a list of services that are covered under the BAA, including Gmail, Google Voice, and Google Meets.
Many will find Google useful, but it may not feel as secure as, for example, a busy mental health practice might want. Some might be tempted to use Microsoft’s services since it is a program on their computers, but that often requires that even the client has access to Office 365. The US Department of Health and Human Services has Google listed with other services on its site, and warns that providers should tell clients that these are third-party platforms.
There Are Options
Even though HIPAA’s slightly-relaxed requirements for telehealth during the pandemic have led to more adaptations in these programs so they can be used in this emergency, healthcare providers may want an option that they feel 100% secure about using beyond the pandemic.
Fortunately, many electronic health-specific programs offer telehealth services. For example, the Spruce healthcare communication platform is designed with HIPAA in mind. Services like Spruce were written for the healthcare field, while Google and Microsoft were designed for more general purposes.
Spruce is hardly the only option. Another example is Yellowschedule, which is used for many business solutions, but has a HIPAA-compliant option available.
Updox is designed specifically for telemedicine, which may feel more secure for some practices. Some electronic health record programs have telehealth options available.
Athenahealth is an electronic medical records platform that also offers telehealth. Along the same vein, TherapyNotes, which is designed for mental health practices, can offer a telehealth option. Simply checking with the program the practice is already using for other services may help a business practice manager safely make the switch to telemedicine for the whole group.
Telemedicine is Here to Stay
Even if the COVID emergency ends, some form of telemedicine is here to stay. And as many workers are discovering that they do not want to return to the old way of doing work, many patients may not want to drive in for a session with their therapists or a quick checkup with their doctors. Adapting to telehealth during the pandemic will help make the permanent transition smoother after the pandemic is over.
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