Health is our top priority & its declination can lead us into a blind alley. So unavailability of compatible health care can be lethal.
Before choosing a TeleHealth Company, thoroughly check the following ten things:
1: Availability, delivery & history matters.
Review your options & their history, analyze their availability and delivery. Check whether they deliver the services as they promise or not.
(Tip: Talk to few people who are using the TeleHealth Company you have chosen, ask them how beneficial it is.Having a tunnel view before stepping forward is never befitting, widen your horizon & seek guidance.
Ask around how they handle emergency cases?
Having few words with the patients who are in the loop can always be eye opening. Get in touch with few patients with whom you share similar health problems like diabetes, allergies, high blood pressure etc)
2: Are they affordable, do they offer a cost effective program?
Make sure if they are affordable for you in the long run. Check the cost at which they provide healthcare services. Ask them to provide their Balance Sheets. Any company selling a commodity even healthcare is liable to show how much they’ve priced their products previously & how much their costs have fluctuated or inflated. By checking this you will have a clear picture of how much it will cost you in future too.
Most companies have hidden charges, before proceeding take a rain check and move around to see how much their peers are delivering at what cost. Make a solid deal so they don’t come around from a backyard with new price tags.
(Tip: Compare the Balance sheets of TeleHealth Companies to short list the best ones.)
3:Are they accessible & available 24/7?
Before picking a TeleHealth Company check their availability & accessibility.
(Tip: Can you easily communicate with them?
Are the professionals (doctors, nurses etc) easily available in emergencies?
If needed, the paramedics will reach your doorstep or not?
Do they respond to house calls promptly?
In case of an emergency can they transport a patient to a hospital where appropriate treatment & care is available 24/7? )
4: Are they available at all networks & communication devices?
One important step before picking a company is to check if they are available at all networks & communication devices or not. For example if a company supports only IPhones or communication devices by Apple, then it’s useless.
(Tip: Ask them if their healthcare facilities are accessible at all networks & any device you use or not. Communicate with them by using different devices which can connect you to them. At least check five different networks to contact them.)
5: Will your privacy be guarded at all costs?
Regardless of the devices and networks you or they will use for communication, in all circumstances they are bound to keep your minor & major health issues under a lid, without your consent they can’t leak an iota of what they have on you. No new discovery, invention or research is fitting enough to give up your personal data.
(Tip: This clause should be part of the agreement you’ll sign to avail their services. )
6: How secure is your TeleHealth Company?
Any TeleHealth Company you chose should be secure. It means they must meet the regulatory standards of local medical certifications.
A TeleHealth Company which isn’t certified or not approved by the government isn’t worthy enough to have your five minutes let alone your health in their reach.
(Tip: Inquire if they’ve the approval to provide TeleHealth care or not.)
7: What kind of TeleHealth services they provide?
It’s important to know if dental care & behavioral health services are included or not.
If you have to pay extra for dental care or you opt a psychologist because the TeleHealth Company isn’t providing one, then it will give a deep dent to your pocket.
(Tip: Pick a company which offers a cost effective program but covers both dental & behavioral health services with the rest of the traditional health services)
8: How they operate without internet.
The leverage of a TeleHealth Company will be long lasting on your life because your life is what your health is so also check the proximity of their services in case you lose web services.
(Tip: Do inquire about the doctors they’ve at their panel)
9: Which softwares do they use?
Some telehealth software are out dated but if they are using it for communication & you aren’t, then ask how you will communicate with them.
(Tip: In case they add a new one will they inform you or not to keep their services readily accessible, you have to know that. )
10: How good is the quality of their service.
Check the quality of their services keenly.
Your health decides the “Do’s and Don’ts” of your life, so it matters a lot what kind of treatment you get in case of a hereditary disease or non-hereditary disease.
Tip: Inquire about the options you will have in case of a chronic condition, hereditary disease, infection, accident & fracture.
If you are a patient of anxiety or depression then check what kind of program they offer. If counseling is available, then how it will be done and under what healthcare program it will be covered.
