A Guide on Choosing Online Healthcare Consultation Software

The Covid-19 pandemic totally revolutionized the delivery of healthcare across the globe. There has been a rapid rise in telehealth popularity lately. As per research, the global telehealth market is expected to reach $55.6 billion by 2025. One of the prominent elements of telehealth is remote patient management via video chats. Has your healthcare entity started using the power of video calls for patient engagement? In this blog, we will discuss how you can choose the best online consultation software to facilitate smoother conversations between patients and medical professionals. Stay with and read on. 

Top Features of Online Healthcare Consultation Software 

In present virtual times, healthcare entities have started using video applications such as Zoom, FaceTime, WhatsApp, and others. If you want to expand your medical reach across wide audiences, leveraging advanced video functionalities has become a must.

Here is exactly where video medical consultation software comes into play. Choosing the right software can seem to be a complicated task. But, fret not! We are here to help. Here’s a list of some of the best features that make a well-functioning healthcare software. 

• Complete Security Compliance

One of the most crucial elements of a virtual online consultation software that you should look for is patient data security. During a video session, sensitive data is shared and private information travels across various networks. This makes all the patient data quite vulnerable. As per research, there were around 616 data breaches identified by the HSS’ Office for Civil Rights in 2020. Hence, security should certainly be your priority. 

Now, different countries have different security standards, acts, and guidelines. 

However, there are certain global security standards that you must adhere to, including GDPR (General Data Protection Regulation), PCI Data Security Standard, Data Protection Act, Personal Information Protection, and Electronic Documents Act. These standards protect healthcare data from hackers. 

One more way of securing patients’ records is via HIPAA compliant texting app. HIPAA stands for Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act. It ensures privacy maintenance of PHI(Protected Health Information), including medical records, bill information, insurance information, and chat history. 

So, make sure that the online consultation software you choose offers end-to-end data security and compliance.

• Easy Integration with Existing Networks 

As a healthcare service provider, it is essential to maintain accurate doctor-patient records. When you choose an online medical consultation software, make sure that it has the capacity to integrate into your existing data networks. This functionality will help you save a lot of time and resources that are incurred on data transfer processes. Also, your online video software should allow seamless payment integration into your communication system. This empowers you to directly invoice your patients and facilitates smoother online transactions. 

• Advanced Video Streaming Options and Instant Messaging

One of the most important features of any virtual medical consultation software is its ability to offer modern-age video functionalities. Here are some must-haves that you should look for: 

• End-to-end video encryption to optimize privacy and security.
• Video streaming options that are compatible with low bandwidth.
• Secured screen sharing and file sharing for simplified collaboration with medical team members as well as patients.
• Group conferencing feature for detailed medical discussions and seminars.

Now, there are many people who might shy away from conducting face-to-face video interactions. Hence, the software that you choose should be able to provide patients with instant messaging features. It can help them easily share their health issues over texts and conduct regular follow-ups. 

• Cost-Effectiveness 

Different healthcare service providers have different budgets. It is important to choose an online healthcare consultation software that best suits your budget. There are some software vendors that come with monthly and annual subscription fees. Then, there are some that charge you as per the consultation frequency. Make sure that the software you select doesn’t burn holes in your pocket. 

Benefits of Using an Online Video Consultation Software in COVID-19 Times

During peak COVID times, healthcare professionals working at hospitals faced the risk of contracting the virus the most. In such circumstances, video consultation software comes to the rescue. Here’s a list of advantages. 

• Quick and safe 

 Virtual consultation software makes it easier for doctors and medical staff to conduct immediate communication with patients from anywhere around the globe via video sessions. This will alleviate the workload on healthcare systems and clinics. Patients will be able to receive instant care from medical experts. Both doctors and patients will be able to avoid physical contact and reduce the risk of catching the COVID-19 virus. 

• Work from home 

Video medical consultation software enables doctors and other medical staff to easily work from the comfort of their home. Doctors can offer consultations from anywhere at any given time. A good medical consultation software helps integrate all healthcare records into your system so that you can get a holistic view of all medical data with a simple click of a button. 

• Learning about patient’s environment

The best part about conducting consultations through video calls is that it enables doctors to learn about a patient’s surroundings. This plays a key role in informing the patient about the right healthcare measures to be taken as per their living conditions. 

Virtual Online Consultation Software – The Future of Healthcare is Here 

Thanks to the rapid advancements in technology, the popularity of video consultation with a doctor will continue to rise. No wonder telemedicine has become the new normal now. 

With the help of the right online healthcare consultation software, doctors and medical professionals can easily provide instant medical aid to patients located in remote areas. This would enhance the overall patient-doctor experience and transform the ways healthcare is delivered across the globe. 

Wrapping Up

We hope our article helped you understand the crucial aspects revolving around online healthcare consultation software. So, what are you waiting for? Integrate a top-grade virtual consultation software and make your move towards smoother healthcare conversations. It’s time to build healthier tomorrow via quality video consultations.