Telehealth and telemedicine have come to the forefront in 2020 due to the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. With social distancing, stay-at-home orders, face covering requirements, and restricted people coming to healthcare facilities, telemedicine is becoming a safer option for many people who don’t need to be seen immediately by a doctor or health professional.
Both healthcare providers and patients must have the right technology on hand to make telemedicine work properly. Akorbi, a worldwide leader in compliant interpretation solutions for telehealth, discusses the basic tools and technical requirements needed for telehealth solutions.
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Telehealth Must Comply With Regulations
Even though telehealth happens outside of a traditional, in-person provider/patient interaction, all communications must comply with regulatory requirements. Providers in the United States draw from HIPAA, Dept. of Health & Human Services, and Medicaid/Medicare regulations for compliance measures. Akorbi’s interpreters and technology for telehealth follow all federal government regulations for privacy.
Hardware
Telehealth interactions have three basic hardware requirements for both provider and patient. A computer or mobile device that can handle software and secure internet connections is the start. Then those devices need a working microphone and a video camera.
Most smartphones and laptop computers on the market today have these three hardware requirements. One extra hardware component to think about is a good set of working earbuds or headphones. Some earbuds have microphones embedded in them. Earbuds or headphones ensure you can hear your healthcare professional correctly. When you set up a telehealth session using Akorbi, we’ll go over the hardware you need.
Software
You’ll also need some kind of video chat software on your computer or smartphone. Zoom is becoming popular. More established software includes Skype and Google Meet. Many of these types of software are free to use. Akorbi makes sure our video software complies with privacy regulations.
Wireless Connection
Telehealth works because it puts a patient in touch with a care team over long distances. Chances are good that a healthcare facility already has a working Wi-Fi or wireless network. Patients will need a working wireless connection for either a smartphone or laptop. Laptops generally need a Wi-Fi signal to connect to. Smartphones must be in range of a cellphone tower. Wireless connectivity must be secure to comply with American regulations for privacy. This is not just for meetings with patients, this is also for transmitting data to healthcare providers.
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ADAPT Powered by Akorbi & Telehealth Solutions
ADAPT powered by Akorbi offers healthcare providers a compliant telehealth solution. The platform works with existing technology to deliver quality, remote interactions. Our team can walk healthcare providers through the process to comply with government regulations. Contact Akorbi or call 1-877-4-AKORBI for more information on our interpretation services and telehealth solutions.