13 Frequently Asked Clinician Questions about Telehealth

Ever since telehealth during COVID-19 made virtual care a necessity for the safety of patients around the country, healthcare providers have had questions about telehealth and how best to provide it. 

Telehealth during COVID-19 showed us that we could get creative in the ways we care for patients’ mental health, while also mitigating risks to their physical health. Now, after more than a few years since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, many mental health clinicians are still offering telehealth appointments. For some, telehealth services are their only care delivery method; for others, it’s part of a hybrid telehealth solution, where they also offer the option of an in-person office visit. 

There’s a lot more to explore when it comes to telehealth. Keep reading to get answers to several of the most frequently asked questions about telehealth that mental health clinicians have today — and find out how Orchid’s telehealth technology can help your practice thrive. 

💁 In this guide, you’ll learn: 

• What is telehealth therapy? 
• Is telehealth a video call? 
• What is the difference between telehealth & telemedicine? 
• How long has telehealth been around? 
• What are important differences between telehealth & in-person care?
• Can I do telehealth across state lines? 
• Does telehealth reduce costs for private practice? 
• What equipment is needed for telehealth? 
• How do I bill a telehealth visit? 
• Can telehealth prescribe meds? 
• How does telehealth improve patient care?
• Is telehealth here to stay?
• How do I start a telehealth practice? 

What is telehealth therapy? 

Telehealth therapy is a technological innovation that allows health providers to give virtual care to patients, instead of meeting in person. Since the rise of telehealth during COVID-19, telehealth appointments have become a common way for patients to receive care. 

A telehealth appointment’s ease of use is especially useful for patients with health conditions that prevent them from making it to in-person visits. But anyone in need of a more convenient way to get access to mental health care can benefit from attending telehealth appointments. 

Is telehealth a video call? 

The most common channel for a telehealth appointment is via a video visit, but telehealth services are not limited to video calls. Telehealth care delivery is also possible via audio-only calls and online text-based messaging platforms. 

Whichever telehealth channel you choose to provide care, it’s important that you and your patients have a reliable internet connection. Also, confirm that the platform you use is HIPAA-compliant, so you can ensure telehealth privacy is paramount in every interaction. 

What is the difference between telehealth & telemedicine?

A telehealth appointment and a telemedicine appointment are similar but distinct terms. Although they’re often used interchangeably, let’s look into the key difference between them. 

You can think of telehealth services as an umbrella term for the many types of healthcare-related services that you can take part in without being physically present for them. That could include a virtual visit for receiving or providing healthcare, but it also includes things like continuing your healthcare education via online courses or managing administrative tasks in your EHR software. 

Telemedicine services, on the other hand, are a specific type of service covered by the telehealth umbrella. It’s all about the telemedicine visit, where a licensed professional provides care to a patient. When you use communications technology to have a virtual visit with a patient, give a diagnosis remotely, or provide any other sort of healthcare treatment without being in person, that’s telemedicine at work. 

How long has telehealth been around? 

Telehealth services may feel like a recent development, but you may be surprised to learn that telehealth technology has been around in some form for over a century: Heart rhythms could be transmitted via telephone as early as the 1900s. Radio was used to transmit medical advice to ships in the 1920s. Psychiatric hospitals in the 1950s were able to connect via a closed-circuit television link in order to provide virtual care remotely. 

Modern telemedicine services, provided via video visits, began in 2002. At the time, access to a video visit with a doctor was exclusive to Medicare recipients who lived in rural areas or regions with a shortage of healthcare providers. As an array of technological advancements have sped up over the past couple decades, so has telehealth technology. That’s what made it possible for widespread telehealth during COVID-19 through today. 

What are important differences between telehealth & in-person care?

One of the most important differences between telehealth and in-person care is the potential limitations that telehealth has when it comes to the need for hands-on examinations. However, that’s less of a concern for most mental health services. The biggest advantages of telehealth include greater convenience and accessibility than in-person care. 

Can I do telehealth across state lines? 

There have been some developments in cross-state licensure for telehealth, primarily due to the increased need for telehealth during COVID-19. But the legality of providing telehealth services across state lines is ultimately dependent upon the specific regulations and licensing requirements of each state. For example, you may need to obtain a license in each state where you intend to provide care to patients. Always refer to the cross-state licensure for telehealth rules in your particular jurisdiction. 

Does telehealth reduce costs for private practice? 

Telehealth adoption can typically reduce costs for private practice owners, especially if you provide only telehealth services and not in-person visits. It requires investing in a quality telehealth platform, but eliminates the need for larger overhead expenses associated with renting and maintaining a physical office space. 

Plus, due to the reach and convenience of telehealth, private practice clinicians can also potentially see more clients remotely than they could in-person — which could actually also help increase health providers’ earning potential. 

What equipment is needed for telehealth? 

Telehealth services typically require fewer investments in equipment than in-person visits. 

The equipment needed for telehealth includes: 

• Reliable internet connection
• Computer, tablet, or smartphone
• Microphone and camera (either attached to your device or integrated within it)
• HIPAA-compliant telehealth software

It’s also a good idea to treat your virtual office setting similar to how you would in an in-person office visit. 

For example: 

• Use natural light or otherwise quality lighting. 
• Have decor that’s in line with your brand. 
• Avoid distractions like housemates or pets during video visits. 
• Preserve telehealth privacy by making sure you’re always offering care in a private room. 

How do I bill a telehealth visit? 

Billing for telehealth services involves using specific CPT codes that are designated for remote services. You should always refer to the telehealth billing guidelines outlined by the healthcare payers and regulatory bodies relevant to your practice. 

That said, telehealth platforms that are integrated with holistic private practice management solutions can often help you with identifying the right codes. Orchid’s comprehensive EHR software even includes the option to use our AI-powered assistant that can recommend telehealth CPT code, saving you time in administrative work for each patient. 

Can telehealth prescribe meds? 

In many cases, qualified physicians and psychiatrists can prescribe meds via a telemedicine visit. However, the legality of that is dependent on the healthcare regulations in your specific jurisdiction, as well as the type of medication you’re prescribing.

For example, say you’re a psychiatrist who’s trying to prescribe a controlled substance, such as an ADHD medication. You may be subject to rules that require your patient to attend at least one in-person office visit per year, in order to prescribe that medication via telehealth services for the rest of the year. Always refer to the latest regulations set forth by your governing bodies. 

How does telehealth improve patient care?

One of the greatest things about widespread telehealth adoption is its impact on the increased accessibility of patient care. 

When clients don’t have to worry about travel expenses or additional health risks, and can get the care they need from their own homes, widespread telehealth adoption leads to accessible mental health care for more people in need of it. 

That’s true, too, for clients with a whole range of chronic conditions, for whom getting out the door for in-person visits has often been impossible. Now, more people with chronic conditions can get the virtual care they need on their own terms. 

Is telehealth here to stay?

Quite simply? Yes. Telehealth virtual visits likely won’t ever replace in-person visits entirely, but we expect it’ll remain an integral part of care delivery for clinicians everywhere — even long after the COVID-19 pandemic. 

If you haven’t yet used telehealth in your work, it’d be wise to look into your options for telehealth platforms, and consider telehealth adoption for your practice. Providing telehealth services is a more accessible way to treat patients’ various mental health conditions. 

How do I start a telehealth practice?

It all starts with the right practice management software — and that starts with Orchid, the innovative all-in-one HIPAA-compliant EHR that prioritizes the needs of mental health clinicians. 

Orchid knows how important it is to have seamless, reliable access to telehealth visits. That’s why we’ve integrated telehealth into the same platform as our online scheduling, electronic health records, billing, automated reminders system, and more. 

Since Orchid includes telehealth technology as a core part of our private practice management software, we’ve eliminated the need for separate telehealth platforms. That way, you don’t have to worry about dealing with multiple subscriptions or add-ons just to get everything you need to properly run your practice. You even get the option to use Orchid’s pioneering EHR-integrated AI-powered assistant to generate clinical notes and patient insights based on your telehealth visits. 

Ready for a telehealth solution that actually makes virtual visits a breeze? Welcome to Orchid.