by Heather Manley
- Telemedicine is evolving in occupational health programs. Now used for monitoring on-site programs and educational programs. This is an excellent example of improving access for client companies and programs with multiple sites.
- Programs have explored the use of telemedicine for injury management and use this to reach outlying clinics. Staffing may be utilized for a larger population over many different clinical settings. Savings of staff, productivity, and decreasing cost for employers in the future.
- When considering telemedicine, be aware of how sophisticated your clients are and of the appropriate IT technology to handle connectivity. Documentation becomes key. The program needs to have the software to be able to document the visit in the electronic medical record, with appropriate training for program utilization.
- It is important to research the possibility of using telemedicine and then develop a plan that looks at needs in the market, employers’ potential use of the product, and strategic need and use for the service. It is important to clearly define the scope of practice, confidentiality, and appropriate documentation.
- Charging for telemedicine is not clear at this time. It appears that special contracting is needed before payment is considered. Research the telemedicine literature and make sure you have the plan well established.
