[tm_pb_section admin_label=”section” transparent_background=”on” allow_player_pause=”off” inner_shadow=”off” parallax=”off” parallax_method=”off” custom_padding=”60px|||” padding_mobile=”on” make_fullwidth=”off” use_custom_width=”off” width_unit=”on” make_equal=”off” use_custom_gutter=”off”][tm_pb_row admin_label=”row” make_fullwidth=”off” use_custom_width=”off” use_grid_padding=”on” width_unit=”on” padding_mobile=”off” background_color=”#eaf6f5″ allow_player_pause=”off” parallax=”off” parallax_method=”off” make_equal=”off” parallax_1=”off” parallax_method_1=”off” vertical_alligment_1=”start” responsive_laptop_1=”inherit” responsive_tablet_1=”inherit” responsive_phone_1=”inherit” order_laptop_1=”1″ order_tablet_1=”1″ order_phone_1=”1″ column_padding_mobile=”on”][tm_pb_column type=”4_4″][tm_pb_image admin_label=”Image” src=”https://www.raxia.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/Roadmap-E-Newsletter_Blog-Feature-Image_Part-2_small-1.png” show_in_lightbox=”off” url_new_window=”off” use_overlay=”off” animation=”off” sticky=”off” align=”center” force_fullwidth=”off” always_center_on_mobile=”on” use_border_color=”off” border_color=”#ffffff” border_style=”solid”] [/tm_pb_image][/tm_pb_column][/tm_pb_row][tm_pb_row admin_label=”row”][tm_pb_column type=”4_4″][tm_pb_text admin_label=”Text” text_orientation=”left” disabled=”off” disabled_on=”|||off” use_border_color=”off” border_color=”#ffffff” border_style=”solid” custom_padding=”40px|||”]

3 Ways to Improve Telehealth for Both Patients and PTs

Telehealth is here to stay. Providers and patients have both become accustomed to telemedicine: so much so that post-pandemic, the expectation is that remote appointments will comprise some 30-40% of “visits” across all specialties — especially as regulations and reimbursement rules rapidly evolve to this new reality.¹  However, the videoconferencing tools used to connect patients and providers are merely one part of the patient journey from scheduling to billing and final payment. For PTs to truly implement a successful telehealth program, they must consider all of the non-clinical activities that precede and follow a visit and the technology necessary to translate them into the virtual world. The end result should ideally be a cohesive and comprehensive process that takes place online that tightly matches the processes established for in-person visits.

[/tm_pb_text][/tm_pb_column][/tm_pb_row][tm_pb_row admin_label=”row”][tm_pb_column type=”1_2″][tm_pb_blurb admin_label=”Don’t Skip Those Pre-visit Questions” url_new_window=”off” use_icon=”on” font_icon=”31″ icon_color=”#ffffff” use_circle=”on” circle_color=”#00afa8″ use_circle_border=”off” circle_border_color=”#ee8600″ icon_placement=”top” animation=”off” text_orientation=”left” use_button=”off” button_type=”link” use_icon_font_size=”off” use_border_color=”off” border_color=”#ffffff” border_style=”solid”]

Don’t Skip Those Pre-visit Questions

Many PTs administer questionnaires, like the Oswestry Disability Index, prior to each visit that help quantify and track patient function. Which, when, and to whom these questionnaires are administered varies from practice to practice. As a part of a telehealth workflow, patients should be asked to complete these questionnaires virtually just as they would be urged to fill one out if they were physically present. The technology utilized to accomplish this mapping from in-person to virtual must be capable of building these online questionnaires exactly to your practice’s specifications to minimize changes to your pre-existing workflow and processes.

These questionnaires are an important part of the long term health management of each patient and should not and need not be set aside should the appointment occur online. Telehealth also adds an additional element to intake in that issues around patient safety and safety protocols must be addressed prior to each virtual visit. What should the PT do if a patient becomes unresponsive during a telehealth visit? Will another party be available to assist the patient if trouble arises? These matters of consent and procedure should be cleared prior to a visit to ensure all parties are on the same page when it comes to patient safety.

[/tm_pb_blurb][/tm_pb_column][tm_pb_column type=”1_2″][tm_pb_image admin_label=”Pre-visit Questionnaire Image” src=”https://www.raxia.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/VIM_Digital-Intake-Form.svg” alt=”Pre-visit Questionnaire” title_text=”Pre-visit Questionnaire” show_in_lightbox=”off” url_new_window=”off” use_overlay=”off” animation=”off” sticky=”off” align=”left” force_fullwidth=”off” always_center_on_mobile=”on” use_border_color=”off” border_color=”#ffffff” border_style=”solid” custom_margin=”100px|||”] [/tm_pb_image][/tm_pb_column][/tm_pb_row][tm_pb_row admin_label=”row”][tm_pb_column type=”1_2″][tm_pb_image admin_label=”Digital New Patient Paperwork Image” show_in_lightbox=”off” url_new_window=”off” use_overlay=”off” animation=”off” sticky=”off” align=”center” force_fullwidth=”off” always_center_on_mobile=”on” use_border_color=”off” border_color=”#ffffff” border_style=”solid” src=”https://www.raxia.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/Roadmap_2_Virtual-Waiting-Room-e1615234738529.png” alt=”Digital New Patient Paperwork” title_text=”Digital New Patient Paperwork”] [/tm_pb_image][/tm_pb_column][tm_pb_column type=”1_2″][tm_pb_blurb admin_label=”Register New Patients Remotely” url_new_window=”off” use_icon=”on” font_icon=”32″ icon_color=”#ffffff” use_circle=”on” circle_color=”#00afa8″ use_circle_border=”off” circle_border_color=”#ee8600″ icon_placement=”top” animation=”off” text_orientation=”left” use_button=”off” button_type=”link” use_icon_font_size=”off” use_border_color=”off” border_color=”#ffffff” border_style=”solid”]

Register New Patients Remotely

Patients new to the practice present their own set of challenges as well since they will fill out the most paperwork prior to their visit. PTs should be able to offer telehealth appointments to all of their patients whether they are brand new or have been with the practice for a while. Here, it is critical to have technology that not only allows for registration to occur online rather than in-person but to be able to specifically customize and tailor the registration questions to meet the needs and requirements of the practice. To maximize efficiency for the practice and minimize bureaucracy for the patient, having the telehealth new patient registration match the in-person new patient registration is critical. The forms should be the same and the only difference is the patient can fill them out on a computer or mobile device from the comfort of their own home.

[/tm_pb_blurb][/tm_pb_column][/tm_pb_row][tm_pb_row admin_label=”row”][tm_pb_column type=”1_2″][tm_pb_blurb admin_label=”Keep Collecting Pre-appointment Copays” url_new_window=”off” use_icon=”on” font_icon=”33″ icon_color=”#ffffff” use_circle=”on” circle_color=”#00afa8″ use_circle_border=”off” circle_border_color=”#ee8600″ icon_placement=”top” animation=”off” text_orientation=”left” use_button=”off” button_type=”link” use_icon_font_size=”off” use_border_color=”off” border_color=”#ffffff” border_style=”solid”]

Keep Collecting Pre-appointment Copays

And finally there are copays. Collecting payment for health services to be rendered is a typical part of the intake process when in person. With the rush to provide telehealth over the course of the pandemic, it’s been left by the wayside by many practices with the expectation that it can be collected through the regular billing process after insurance adjustments have been applied. Unfortunately, when practices fail to collect from their patients up front, they significantly decrease their chances of ever collecting any payment from their patients at all. Practices that rely on traditional billing processes and paper statements end up collecting only 40-50% of their patient payments post-visit. For a successful telehealth implementation, virtual copays need to be part of the equation; if it was a part of the in-person intake process, then it should be a part of the equivalent virtual telehealth intake process.

Furthermore, by handling all of the intake and copay functions online, your practice will have a wealth of patient data that can be analyzed, through both data analyst and artificial intelligence means, to not only reduce paperwork and increase payments but to also truly maximize patient engagement and facilitate faster and easier patient payments post-visit. 

[/tm_pb_blurb][/tm_pb_column][tm_pb_column type=”1_2″][tm_pb_image admin_label=”Collect Co-Pays Image” show_in_lightbox=”off” url_new_window=”off” use_overlay=”off” animation=”off” sticky=”off” align=”left” force_fullwidth=”off” always_center_on_mobile=”on” use_border_color=”off” border_color=”#ffffff” border_style=”solid” src=”https://www.raxia.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/Raxia_VIM_Contactless-Payments-Image.svg” alt=”Collect Co-Pays” title_text=”Collect Co-Pays” custom_margin=”100px|||”] [/tm_pb_image][/tm_pb_column][/tm_pb_row][tm_pb_row admin_label=”row”][tm_pb_column type=”4_4″][tm_pb_text admin_label=”Text” text_orientation=”left” disabled=”off” disabled_on=”|||off” use_border_color=”off” border_color=”#ffffff” border_style=”solid” custom_padding=”||20px|”]

Make It All Work Online

Again: Telehealth is here to stay. Your PT practice should be prepared for this future. 

[/tm_pb_text][/tm_pb_column][/tm_pb_row][tm_pb_row admin_label=”Row” make_fullwidth=”off” use_custom_width=”off” use_grid_padding=”on” width_unit=”on” padding_mobile=”on” background_color=”#f8f8f8″ allow_player_pause=”off” parallax=”off” parallax_method=”off” make_equal=”off” parallax_1=”off” parallax_method_1=”off” vertical_alligment_1=”start” responsive_laptop_1=”inherit” responsive_tablet_1=”inherit” responsive_phone_1=”inherit” order_laptop_1=”1″ order_tablet_1=”1″ order_phone_1=”1″ column_padding_mobile=”on” custom_padding=”40px||40px|”][tm_pb_column type=”4_4″][tm_pb_text admin_label=”Text” text_orientation=”center” disabled=”off” disabled_on=”|||off” use_border_color=”off” border_color=”#ffffff” border_style=”solid” custom_padding=”||20px|” max_width=”850px”]

Practices that care for their patients remotely with the same attention as they would provide in person will be the ones that thrive in our post-pandemic world.

[/tm_pb_text][tm_pb_button admin_label=”Button” url_new_window=”off” button_text=”Make It All Work Online” button_alignment=”center” custom_button=”off” button_letter_spacing=”0″ button_use_icon=”default” button_icon_placement=”right” button_on_hover=”on” button_letter_spacing_hover=”0″ button_url=”https://www.raxia.com/#contact”] [/tm_pb_button][/tm_pb_column][/tm_pb_row][tm_pb_row admin_label=”Row” make_fullwidth=”off” use_custom_width=”off” use_grid_padding=”on” width_unit=”on” custom_padding=”40px||60px|” padding_mobile=”on” allow_player_pause=”off” parallax=”off” parallax_method=”off” make_equal=”off” parallax_1=”off” parallax_method_1=”off” vertical_alligment_1=”start” responsive_laptop_1=”inherit” responsive_tablet_1=”inherit” responsive_phone_1=”inherit” order_laptop_1=”1″ order_tablet_1=”1″ order_phone_1=”1″ column_padding_mobile=”on”][tm_pb_column type=”4_4″][tm_pb_text admin_label=”Sources” text_orientation=”left” disabled=”off” disabled_on=”|||off” use_border_color=”off” border_color=”#ffffff” border_style=”solid” text_font_size=”12″] ¹  https://www.pewresearch.org/fact-tank/2019/09/09/us-generations-technology-use/ [/tm_pb_text][/tm_pb_column][/tm_pb_row][/tm_pb_section]