How doctors can use technology to cut COVID-19 infection risks

The COVID-19 pandemic paved the way this week for the expansion of telehealth. You might be thinking, that’s great, but now isn’t the best time to be implementing a new IT solution. Offering telehealth services doesn’t have to be complicated and it could prevent you and your patients from catching the virus. And under newly announced HIPAA “enforcement discretion,” you don’t have to worry about running afoul of HIPAA law.

How to get started with Telehealth

Roger Severino, director of the Office for Civil Rights (OCR), a division of the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services (HHS), issued a statement authorizing physicians and their employers to use “non-public facing” communication platforms to offer telehealth services. Non-public facing is the key phrase here. Acceptable applications, according to OCR and HHS, include:

• Apple FaceTime

• Facebook Messenger video chat

• Google Hangouts video

• Skype

If you have an iPhone, a Facebook account, or a Gmail address, you have access to all of these services. You can also create a free Skype account here. That’s all you need to start seeing patients anywhere, without fear of penalties.

If you feel the need to use HIPAA-compliant platforms, HHS says these qualify:

• Skype for Business

• Updox

• VSee

• Zoom for Healthcare

• Doxy.me

• Google G Suite Hangouts Meet

Keep in mind that most of these aren’t free and aren’t as simple as the first list of applications. And with all of these applications, your patients would also need to have the app or an account in order to communicate with you. This could be a hurdle for seniors. The simplest solution might be to have a family member assist them.

An unacceptable, public-facing communication platform would be something like TikTok, Twitch, or Facebook Live. But chances are you probably aren’t using those anyway.

What doctors can use telehealth?

Pretty much anybody but surgeons looking to operate can use telehealth. If you can think of a use case and can follow the loosened law, you’re good. Here are some possibilities.