Telehealth Platforms for Cash Based Practice

As a cash based PT or other healthcare provider, there are so many routes you can take to provide your patients the care they deserve. Oftentimes, new practice owners, or practice owners that have been in business a while look to offer cash based telehealth services to better serve the needs of their clients with the convenience of an online service platform.

Learn more about starting a cash based telehealth practice in the blog post here.

No matter what point you’re at owning a physical therapy practice, new or seasoned, having a functional and easy to use software for your telehealth practice is important to get started. During this post, we’re going to dive into some of the recommendations I have when it comes to software for your telehealth physical therapy practice. We’ll discuss three solely telehealth platforms, as well as three EMR platforms that offer a telehealth feature.

Ease of Use

When it comes to selecting a software for your practice, including one that allows you to offer telehealth services, the most important thing to consider is the ease of use of the software for both you and your clients. The platform should be easy to set up, access, and explain to a patient how to use. 

If there’s any hang up, especially when it comes to patients using the software, this can be something that turns them away from working with you. And we don’t want that. Bonus points if the telehealth platform is equally accessible on both desktop and mobile devices.

Considering EMR Integration and Cost

Next, you want to consider whether you want the telehealth platform to integrate with your EMR. Some practice owners prefer this so that everything is all in one place, their documentation, billing, and where they see their patients. But, this isn’t something that you have to have to ensure efficient flow of your practice. It really comes down to what works best for you.

Finally, when looking into different softwares, it’s important to consider the cost of each and what fits best into your budget. The good news is that if your budget is minimal, there are a few free options that I personally like. If your budget is a little more padded, and you want to consider a more expensive option for the convenience of what the software has to offer, it’s perfectly fine to go that route as well. 

Telehealth Platforms

Now that we’ve lined out some of the things to consider when it comes to choosing your telehealth software, let’s jump into the platforms I recommend that offer strictly telehealth features. I’ve had experience with the following three softwares, either as the patient or provider and feel that I can provide some valuable insight.

Doxy.me

The first telehealth provider I want to mention is called Doxy.me. This platform I haven’t used as a practice owner, but have used as a patient. I’ve found as a patient it is super simple to use and allowed me to schedule appointments and be seen virtually without issues. Based on the patient experience I’ve had, I think it’s safe to assume the ease of use for the provider is user-friendly as well.

A couple pros I want to point out is that there is no need for the patient or provider to download or install anything to use this software. It is HIPAA compliant and also offers virtual waiting rooms for the provider so that back to back appointments aren’t interrupting one another.

There is a free version that offers unlimited virtual calls and could be a great starter for practice owners. There are also paid versions that offer additional features like higher quality video and customizable waiting rooms.

Google Meet

Google Meet is another excellent option that I personally used when I first got started as a practice owner. For only $12/month, you can purchase Google Workspace, giving you access to all the features like Docs, Sheets, Forms, and Google Meet, not to mention it is HIPAA compliant. In theory, you could do all of your documentation and video calls within this platform for a very low price.

One unique piece to Google Meet is that it offers a live caption option during meetings, which could possibly be helpful for those hard of hearing or just for a better user experience. Another pro is that most people are familiar with the use of Google products, so there isn’t much of a learning curve for you or your patients.

Zoom

Zoom really boomed during the time of the pandemic, and is a platform I felt like I saw everywhere. One big pro with Zoom is that it integrates well with other online softwares if that is something you’re interested in. It’s also a platform that has had widespread use over the years, meaning many patients are familiar with it and how to use it prior to seeing you.

There is a free version of Zoom, but in order to secure HIPAA compliance, a paid version is required. As well as, one thing that may be a barrier is the fact that the patient has to download or install Zoom onto their device in order to be seen via telehealth. Something that could impact their interest in working with you.

EMR Integrated Telehealth Platforms

Now that we’ve covered solely telehealth platforms, let’s jump into the EMR softwares that offer telehealth integration.

PracticeQ

First we have PracticeQ. This is an EMR that I personally used during the start of my practice ownership. Not only does this software offer an add-on telehealth feature, but it is also great for scheduling, billing, and documentation. 

During my time using PracticeQ, I really liked the software and thought it would be great for someone who wants everything all in one place.

SimplePractice

SimplePractice is another popular EMR that is slowly growing in popularity. It offers integrated telehealth, including HIPAA compliant video calls, screen sharing, and a virtual whiteboard, which could be beneficial for sharing diagrams or breaking down mechanics of an exercise a patient performs.

Speaking of exercise, if you’re looking for an excellent home exercise program software, check out the blog post here.

This EMR also allows the provider to schedule, bill, and document all in one place.

Healthie

Healthie is a newer option that I discovered and seems to have many promising features. It offers a beginner plan that allows up to 10 active clients, which is actually quite a few when a practice owner is just getting started. The practice owner has access to scheduling, payment processing, invoicing, and HIPAA compliant telehealth all in this single platform.

A couple features that make it unique is that it allows for telehealth group sessions and offers a side-by-side video call and notes feature that could make documentation during video sessions quite convenient.

Conclusion

When choosing your telehealth platform, consider your needs, the ease of use, integration with your current systems, and the budget you have available. Telehealth can be a great service to build your practice on or offer as a service option to supplement your brick & mortar or mobile practice. The key is to select an option that best serves you and your patients.

To learn more about other softwares I recommend for a cash based practice, read the blog post here.

If you’re struggling to select a telehealth software or want help with getting your practice off the ground, book a free discovery call with me here! We can discuss your goals, current state of your practice, and what your next best steps would be.

Listen to this episode on my podcast!