Developing a business plan and workflow for your telehealth program
A successful telehealth program for patients with chronic conditions requires planning, research, and an understanding of your community’s needs.
On this page:
Is telehealth a good fit for your community?
You know your community and your patients best. Using telehealth to treat chronic conditions can be beneficial in many populations. Here are a few questions to consider:
- Does a large portion of your community struggle with chronic conditions, such as Type 2 diabetes, hypertension, or obesity?
- Does your community have high rates of asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disorder (COPD), or other respiratory disorders?
- Do members of your community have access to devices and high speed internet?
- Are patients comfortable using technology?
Determine what type of telehealth services you will offer
There are several ways to approach telehealth when it comes to treating and managing chronic health conditions:
- Appointments for follow-up care
- Sick care appointments
- Medication management
- Remote patient monitoring
- Mental health services
- Coordination with tertiary centers in local hospitals for certain diagnostic testing and imaging
- School-based telehealth for students with chronic conditions
- Secure messaging to share health diaries and updates on diet, exercise, and other lifestyle changes
Create a dedicated team
A successful telehealth program depends on a dedicated team in which each individual understands their role and responsibility. You may need to hire additional staff or re-organize to accommodate your new telehealth program. Staffing considerations to support telehealth include:
- Staff to provide technical assistance to patients
- Team members from diverse fields, including health care providers and medical support staff
- Administrative staff to handle telehealth scheduling
Telehealth technology
You will need to select the most appropriate technology to successfully launch and sustain your telehealth program. Technology considerations include:
- A stable and fast internet connection
- A patient portal that allows for asynchronous communication between providers and patients
- Programs that allow you to accept data transmissions from remote patient monitoring devices
Advertise your telehealth program for chronic conditions
Advertising your telehealth program for chronic conditions is the best way to get information out to your community and build your practice. Getting the word out could include:
- Printed signage near your office
- Brochures and handouts in multiple languages for your waiting room and local community groups
- An email or phone call to your current patients
- Social media posts
- An ad in your local newspaper or magazine
- Letters or postcards to the community
- A booth or stand at community events such as health fairs or town celebrations
Tip: Improve your telehealth program by asking for suggestions and feedback from your patients and their families. This can help you tailor your services to retain and attract new patients.
More information:
Getting started — Health Resources and Services Administration
Planning your telehealth workflow — Health Resources and Services Administration
Preparing patients for telehealth — Health Resources and Services Administration
Marketing Considerations for Telehealth Programs — Rural Health Information Hub
Marketing Your Telehealth Program — TexLA Telehealth Resource Center
Evaluation Measures for Rural Telehealth Programs — Rural Health Information Hub