According to the American Medical Association, “Just as bedside manner encompasses much more than one’s appearance in person, webside manner transcends how one looks on camera . . . It’s also about empathy and understanding the totality of the encounter.”
So how do medical providers master this concept? Here are 4 key ways to improve your webside manner.
Be the Center of Attention
During a telehealth visit, make sure you are the central focus on the screen. If your background is messy or has distracting objects in it, then it’s likely that the patient won’t give you the attention you require. Before every telehealth session, you should also choose a quiet room, adjust your camera so you’re in the center of the screen, and adjust your lighting. Remember: the more professional your framing and background look, the more professional you’ll look.
Avoid Multitasking During Telehealth Sessions
Patients value an empathetic provider. As such, you must ensure that you convey the impression that you genuinely care during telehealth sessions. This means that you need to prioritize eye contact with them. If you appear to be distracted on camera, the patient will notice immediately and think you don’t care. If you are interrupted by a staff member or need to pause to take notes, excuse yourself while you temporarily shift focus. This way, patients won’t get the wrong impression.
Buy HIPAA-compliant Telehealth Software
The best telehealth software will make patients feel like their privacy is being respected. Due to the loosening of telemedicine regulations to accommodate remote healthcare demands in 2020, some telehealth software solutions are not HIPAA-compliant, and this puts the patient’s medical history at risk. If you’re one of the many who adopted telehealth in 2020, take a careful look at your telehealth software to ensure its HIPAA compliance. To further protect your patient’s privacy, always ensure that the only people present on the telehealth call are ones that absolutely need to be there.
Use Technology to Optimize the Patient Experience
During any telehealth session, make technology your best friend. Certain telehealth software solutions allow the provider to screen share, which gives them the ability to show patients medical documents or images. Opt for a solution that offers this capability so you make the most of the telehealth visit. Moreover, find one that will allow you to add a third party to the session. This is a valuable offering if you’d like to include another specialist, or a translator if your patient speaks a different language. The possibilities are endless with technology, so make the telehealth software you use indicate that!
The Best Telehealth Software to Improve Webside Manner
If you’re looking for the best telehealth software to help in the ways listed above, DocResponse’s telehealth software will provide you with the following:
- A HIPAA-compliant software solution that prioritizes the patient’s privacy
- The ability to screen share any document or image with your patient
- An easy way to bring a third party into the telehealth call
Making sure you look great on camera, showing empathy toward your patients, and preventing distractions are still tasks that fall on you, but leave the rest to DocResponse. Go into a telehealth session with the peace of mind that your patient is protected, informed, and accommodated with their software.
Schedule a demo to learn more about why DocResponse has the best telehealth software for your practice!