Telemedicine expanded dramatically during COVID-19 and remains integral to modern healthcare. Effective virtual care requires adapting clinical skills for digital environments while maintaining quality.
Virtual Visit Best Practices
Successful telemedicine requires specific techniques. Test technology before appointments ensuring audio and video work properly. Create professional backgrounds free of distractions. Position cameras at eye level for natural sight lines. Maintain 'eye contact' by looking at camera rather than screen. Speak clearly accounting for potential audio delays. Use screen sharing to review labs or images with patients. Virtual visits require more explicit communication—non-verbal cues are less apparent.
Physical Examination via Telemedicine
Virtual physical exams have limitations but offer value. Guide patients through self-examination techniques. Assess gait, tremor, and movement through video observation. Evaluate skin lesions using close-up views. Use family members as proxies for assisted exams. Recognize examination limitations and identify when in-person evaluation is necessary. Some conditions require physical examination that telemedicine cannot provide—clinical judgment determines appropriateness.