What typically needs to be done to prepare a patient for a store-and-forward telemedicine encounter?
Preparing a patient for a store-and-forward telemedicine consultation involves several steps. These include scheduling a patient visit at the remote site and usually registering him or her in the specialist’s billing system. If the patient is new, he or she needs to have an explanation of the nature of a telemedicine consultation and his or her written consent to participate needs to be obtained. He or she will also most likely be registered in the remote site’s billing and medical records systems. The referring physician, the reason for referral, relevant information from the existing medical record, and any preliminary physical examination findings as defined by the applicable protocol needs to be obtained as well.
