A Guide to Transitioning Your Clinic to a Remote Work Environment
As the number of COVID-19 cases continues to rise and schools and businesses have begun to operate remotely, video-conferencing or video-call has become an organization-saving tool. One of the best tools out there is Zoom, a high-quality video conferencing tool that allows you to connect with people anywhere, at any time. Although the shift to remote work can seem daunting, we’re here to provide you with the right tools to make this as smooth a transition as possible.
1. Using telemedicine is easy
Scheduling a meeting is straightforward with Zoom. Zoom can be synced with Google Calendar and you can easily set a Zoom Meeting when you send a calendar invite. After the client or team member accepts the Google Calendar invitation, it will immediately sync to their calendar as well and send them a reminder and link before the meeting takes place. This allows for easy and clear communication between each participant of the scheduled meeting and decreases no-shows. There is also a Zoom extension for Chrome that can be found here.
2. Check-in With Your Clients
Negative news, such as a global pandemic, can pose as a major source of stress, which is why it’s particularly important for therapists to check in on their clients during the outbreak of the COVID-19 virus. With the announcement of new social and work regulations each day, self-reports and weekly check-ins are crucial for therapists to implement into their clinics. Maintaining close communication, such as checking in on clients regularly or asking how they are, can make for an easier transition, while also reminding them that they are not alone.
3. Maintain Client Privacy
It is essential to make sure that all of the information within your remote workspace is kept confidential. For example, making sure your Zoom account is HIPAA compliant and that you signed a Business Associate Agreement (BAA). For some people, working over the internet can be unnerving, so it’s important to make sure clients know that their information is safe and is kept private.
4. Have the right equipment
It is also important to note that therapists should check their settings on their computer before starting a remote therapy session. Making sure you have a quality camera and audio on your computer is essential to successful remote work. Always mute your microphone before joining a meeting and minimize any noise disruptions that might be in the room. An important part of a successful video conference is minimal background noise so that your client or team can hear and communicate with you properly.
We are here to help
Eleos Health is here to help. We understand that it can be overwhelming to transition to remote work, especially at such a tense time. We are currently offering a 90-day free trial our program, which has full integration with Zoom, in order for therapists to help more patients remotely. Eleos Health auto-generates therapy session analytics and treatment reports, while giving therapists one space to manage all upcoming sessions. With the right tools and solutions, we hope to make this time a little less stressful for everyone.
