Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, healthcare providers are attempting to reduce their in-office visits for the protection of their patients and staff. In efforts to minimize exposure many providers have turned to telehealth or accelerated telehealth implementations. This solution can leave patients and providers vulnerable if executed without implementing proper policies and procedures.
The sudden and immediate need to get telehealth systems up and running may have left you operating without a telehealth policy in place. These are a few topics your telehealth policy should cover:
- Who is a good candidate for telehealth visits?
- Is a Business Associate Agreement necessary?
- What are acceptable video communication applications?
- Best practices to mitigate privacy and security risks for both parties
This is a sample policy you can adapt for your organization’s needs.
