To create the most effective virtual care programs, health systems should establish a framework that spans across documentation, integration, best practices and support, according to an April 19 Harvard Business Review article.
A group of researchers and medical experts from Texas A&M University suggested health systems take into account four key approaches when creating telehealth programs:
- Health systems should create a service blueprint that documents the roles and interdependencies of everyone involved in a typical virtual care appointment. By laying out everyone's roles and responsibilities, the system can more easily make changes and improvements.
- Integrate all component parts of the visit to ensure a streamlined experience. All the logistical details, like scheduling future appointments and refilling prescriptions should be folded into the service.
- Understand the established best practices of telemedicine and use these tenets. Evidence-based decision making, provider and patient education and whole care team involvement are all approaches that are effective and should be used.
- Invest in strong support systems for the visit, including strong technical assistance teams and clinical teams. Consider creating new roles such as a digital health navigator whose responsibilities would be to provide support and measure success.