by Katie Nunn, MBA, CMPE

Telemedicine Start-Up Guide

Step-by-step instructions on rapidly setting up telemedicine

  1. Choose a vendor that is HIPAA compliant: Telemedicine companies are being overrun with requests for setting up new accounts. Some telemedicine companies have features that allow you to prescribe through them and will interface with your scheduling system or EMR. Right now, you can do without those features. Consider using some of the mainstream web-conferencing platforms that are also HIPAA compliant:

e-Visit, Microsoft Teams, Zoom Meeting, Go-to MeetingTelemedicine start up guide

  1. What else you need:
  2. Web cam, iPhone, or smart phone – You will be able to do this either on a laptop or PC with a web cam or with a smart phone. This is true for the provider and for the patient. It is probably easiest if the provider is on a laptop or computer with a webcam and the patient to use their cell phone. It is also good if the provider either has two monitors or a separate computer so he/she can document the encounter while they are in the “appointment” especially if that is their normal workflow.
  3. Patients email address
  4. Schedule the appointment with the patient: All these platforms work in a similar way; you will send the patient a link and that will enable them to join your meeting. The email will have a link as well as the time and day of the appointment.
  5. “See” the Patient: You will meet with that patient. You may want to have your MA or nurse “meet” with them first to get any information that they normally get, like their history, medication reconciliation, current pharmacy etc. Then they can pass the patient to you. It might be helpful to have a laptop that is dedicated to the Telemedicine appointment that can be moved from MA to Provider. 
  6. Document your visit: The provider will need to document like normal. History, ROS, Physical (whatever you can actually do/see via telemedicine), and the Assessment and Plan. You will also want to include a statement about this being done via telemedicine in your note.
  7. Bill the visit: You will bill your regular office visit, keeping in mind that your physical exam is limited by what you can actually do remotely. (Office visit codes: 99202-99215) Then you will bill with the Place of Service code 02, which is for telemedicine.