Comparing types of telehealth services

An audio-video visit is a real-time (synchronous) video appointment between you and your patient. These telehealth services can often replace in-person appointments for routine care, follow-ups or counseling. A secure telehealth platform with high-definition video is essential for ensuring privacy and clarity.

Audio-only telehealth consultations are ideal for check-ins or follow-ups when video visits aren’t possible. These phone-based appointments allow patients with technology limitations or little to no internet access to have their clinical needs met.

• Related: How to code for telehealth, audio-only, and virtual-digital visits

Remote patient monitoring uses digital tools to collect health data from patients and transmit it securely to your practice. You can use this data to monitor vitals, chronic conditions and recovery metrics between appointments, helping identify issues early and improving chronic care management.

• Related: Coding for remote patient monitoring

These asynchronous telehealth services, also known as “store and forward,” allow patients to send messages, photos or questions via secure email or a telehealth platform. You can respond on your own time, providing advice or follow-up instructions. These tools are especially useful for minor concerns or non-urgent follow-ups.

An eConsult lets you connect directly with a specialist—securely and efficiently—without involving the patient in the conversation. You’ll need to obtain verbal consent first, but from there, you can use this provider-to-provider telehealth service to share information, get input and make faster, more collaborative decisions about patient care. eConsults are especially useful in specialties like cardiology, dermatology and endocrinology.

When adding telehealth services to your practice, you’ll need to choose between stand-alone telehealth platforms and electronic health record (EHR) integrated applications. The right choice depends on your existing workflow, patient needs and technology capacity.

These telehealth technologies function independently from your EHR. You’ll document visits and conduct video interactions separately, often using a dual-screen setup.

Pros:

• Lower cost
• Simple to implement
• Minimal contractual commitment

Cons:

• No EHR integration
• Separate documentation and scheduling required

Many EHR systems now support third-party telehealth applications. These tools allow you to manage telehealth visits, documentation, scheduling and patient communication from a single system.

Pros:

• Enables a seamless workflow
• Provides a familiar platform for patients

Cons:

• May require patient login credentials
• Can involve higher costs or extended EHR contracts

The best telehealth vendors offer secure, flexible and compliant tools that support a full range of telehealth services. Look for vendors that offer:

• Secure, high-definition, audio-video and audio-only visit options
• Asynchronous messaging with attachments
• eConsult functionality
• EHR integration or a standalone platform with options for dual-screen use or data migration
• HIPAA and state privacy compliance
• Support for patient self-scheduling
• Compatibility with your patient demographics
• Positive customer satisfaction ratings

To ensure a telehealth vendor meets your practice’s needs, ask questions that clarify cost, support and integration, such as:

• Can you provide a detailed cost estimate (startup, annual, ongoing) based on practices like ours?
• Do user roles align with our telehealth responsibilities?
• Will we have a dedicated support person during onboarding?
• Is phone support available during our business hours?
• Are user licenses flexible when team members change?