Being able to pivot quickly from in-person visits to telehealth and conduct an effective remote physical exam is possible with the right workflows.
Fam Pract Manag. 2024;31(5):12-17
Author disclosures: no relevant financial relationships.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, primary care practices that had not previously considered telehealth viable were pushed to reconsider it to stay solvent. The pandemic fueled a rapid increase in telehealth to a peak of more than 50% of visits,1 which has now settled into slightly more than 10%.2–3 Yet even in this post-pandemic era, telehealth has tremendous potential to strengthen the basic provision of care in small and large practices.
This article describes the benefits of — and workflows for — integrating telehealth into the primary care workday, including tips for conducting effective physical exams via telehealth.
KEY POINTS
Integrating telehealth into the primary care workday can reduce cancellations, prevent the spread of contagious illness, improve follow-up care, and give clinicians visibility into patients' social needs.
Telehealth is most successful with a team approach, including front-desk staff (who obtain patient consent and explain the process) and medical assistants (who obtain data for the patient history).
With the patient's assistance and good lighting, clinicians can conduct effective remote physical exams for a surprising number of conditions.
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