In a two-year period where telemedicine increased by as much as 3,000% across some months, even post-pandemic recovery rests on the ability of medical professionals to implement, and properly utilize, this new way of meeting patients. The trouble is that, despite this generalized shift, countless providers are unsure how to stay afloat in these new tech-based waters.

After all, the quality of service that has long been the only real medical differentiator is almost impossible to manage behind a screen, facilitating a commoditization that sees value for money coming out as the only real way to stay ahead. But, all hope is not lost, and with telemedicine looking set to remain, more healthcare providers are now considering how to continue ensuring quality care with the much-needed personal touch. Here, we consider three surprisingly simple ways to ensure this increasingly important digitized addition to service.​​

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# 1 - Always remain available

Telemedicine will never altogether replace the value of in-person appointments, meaning that making sure to leave face-to-face slots open for individuals who need them is key. Even if you manage the flow of patients by holding telemedicine appointments to determine whether in-person checks are necessary, it’s therefore essential that you make it clear you’re still in the office, and that you’re still more than happy to meet with patients personally if and when it’s appropriate.

# 2 - Utilize tech to better know your clients

Far from assuming that telemedicine is the end of patient care, it’s also worth remembering that technology provides the opportunity to actually know your clients better. In fact, by making it possible to access patient histories and profiles at the click of a button, customer relationship management, as found here, provides a fantastic opportunity to turn a potential pitfall into a benefit. You’ll certainly be better positioned to easily recap on patient priorities and concerns before a meeting, showing that you’re willing to go the extra mile to make sure that you’re providing the highest possible quality of personal care. 

# 3 - Reassess your bedside manner 

Bedside manners have always played a key role in healthcare, and are essential for putting patients at ease and developing relationships that last. Unfortunately, traditional bedside go-to's like eye contact and gentle touch are now off the cards. Luckily, it is possible to still ensure these same benefits and keep business running as usual through the screen, and it all comes down to your ability to grasp what’s been playfully termed ‘web-side manner’. In this instance, simple things like looking into the camera, showing that you’re listening by sitting up straight, and also depicting professionalism by hosting calls when in uniform at your office can all help to provide the protective, trusting bubble that, for so many years, has proven the sign of an expert worth trusting.

Telemedicine has undeniably changed the ways that we both operate with and deliver medical services and healthcare. However, the personal touch is still very much possible, and these tips can help you to achieve it.