Implementing Telehealth in Practice

The term "telemedicine" often is used to refer to traditional clinical diagnosis and monitoring that are delivered by technology. The term "telehealth" refers to the technology-enhanced health care framework that includes services such as virtual visits, remote patient monitoring, and mobile health care. Evidence suggests that telehealth provides comparable health outcomes when compared with traditional methods of health care delivery without compromising the patient-physician relationship, and it also has been shown to enhance patient satisfaction and improve patient engagement. Obstetrician-gynecologists and other physicians who provide telehealth should make certain that they have the necessary hardware, software, and a reliable, secure internet connection to ensure quality care and patient safety. To implement a telehealth program effectively, participating sites must undergo resource assessments to evaluate equipment readiness. Credentialing and privileging in telemedicine depend on the requirements of the facilities where the physician practices and the source of service payment or reimbursement. Obstetrician-gynecologists and other physicians who provide telehealth must meet many safeguards before delivering telehealth services, including federal, state, and local regulatory laws and licensure requirements. Insurance carriers should provide clear guidelines to physicians who provide telehealth to ensure appropriate health insurance coverage for tele-encounters. Telehealth has quickly become integrated into nearly every aspect of obstetrics and gynecology, and current trends in patient-generated data and big data analytics portend increased use. These technology-enhanced health care delivery opportunities enhance, not replace, the current standard of care.