telehealth 1
News

Telehealth Etiquette: Best practices for providers

Published Date:

The use of telehealth has become an essential component of health care delivery, providing convenient access to health care. However, it’s important that proper etiquette is maintained during virtual care appointments to provide an effective level of communication and patient care. Here are some of the most important points to keep in mind.

Confirm patient identity. Use your credentials to establish trust with the patient and ensure that they are who they claim to be.

Professional appearance. Maintain a professional appearance during the virtual meeting.

Maintain eye contact. Make eye contact with the camera in order to establish rapport.

Active listening. Take the time to listen carefully to your patients' concerns and ask open-ended questions in order to obtain the necessary information from them.

Explain clearly. Discuss diagnoses, treatments and instructions in a simple, jargon-free manner.

Patient privacy. Use secure, encrypted platforms and discuss sensitive matters in private.

Technical assistance. Provide patients with assistance with technical issues or offer alternatives in case of technology failure.

Follow-up care. Arrange for follow-up appointments, prescribe medications or recommend further testing as necessary.

Telehealth offers many benefits, but in order to maintain the quality of care, health care providers need to adhere to appropriate etiquette. Providers can take advantage of virtual medical appointments by following these guidelines and ensure that care remains accessible and effective.

More from SIU News

Anjali Patel AOA 2025 Winner

SIU medical student awarded national research fellowship for work on cancer-fighting immune cells

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. – Anjali Patel, a second-year medical student at Southern Illinois University School of Medicine, has been selected for the 2025 Carolyn L. Kuckein Student Research Fellowship by the
skull base surgery team

Residents gain hands-on experience with world-class skull base surgeons

In the days leading up to International Skull Base Surgery Day celebrated on June 4, residents from the Departments of Otolaryngology – Head and Neck Surgery and the Division of Neurosurgery at SIU
Legion of Legacies medallion

Medical school celebrates 50th anniversary of inaugural class

SIU School of Medicine will celebrate a historic milestone honoring the Class of 1975—its first graduating class—at their 50-year reunion on June 21. They will offer tribute with the launch of a Legion of Legacies.