Becoming a telehealth champion in your clinic requires a strategic approach, especially when facing resistance from decision-makers or colleagues. In the rapidly evolving landscape of healthcare, telehealth has emerged as a transformative force, offering providers an innovative way to deliver care. Understandably, colleagues may be hesitant to deviate from their comfort zone and adopt new practices. If you are encountering these challenges as you advocate for telehealth, in this blog post, our providers at Kismet Health will guide you on the top 5 ways to become an effective telehealth champion in your clinic: 

1. Education is Key 

The first step in becoming a telehealth champion is to equip yourself with a deep understanding of the benefits and potential pitfalls of telehealth. Keeping up with the latest research, success stories, and best practices in telehealth implementation is key. Some of our favorite resources include American Telemedicine Association, American Academy of Pediatrics Section on Telehealth Care, American Psychological Association’s Guidelines for Telepsychology, and National Children’s Alliance Telehealth Resources. 

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Once armed with knowledge, share it with your colleagues and decision-makers via lunch and learns or informational sessions and articulate the advantages of telehealth on themes of improved patient outcomes, increased access to care, the potential for more efficient workflows, and opportunities for increased revenue.

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2. Address Concerns Head-On

Resistance often stems from fear of the unknown. Understand and empathize with the concerns of decision-makers and colleagues. You know your colleagues best. Tailor your approach to directly address these concerns, emphasizing that telehealth is not a replacement but a powerful supplement to in-person care. Being transparent about implementation, ease of use, security and costs are a good start. 

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Using telehealth does not mean replacing in person care. At Kismet Health, we want the whole child to be taken care of, as we have a collaborative care approach. Many of our customers find that a hybrid approach is their most successful use case of virtual care. They want to see the patient in person first and then move to telehealth for further care. Our team at Kismet is available for consultations, to answer questions and address any concerns on how this looks for your team specifically.. 

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3. Seek Feedback

Collaboration is the cornerstone of successful change. Actively seek feedback from decision-makers and colleagues, while being receptive to their thoughts and reservations. Engage in open and constructive dialogue to create a shared vision for the integration of telehealth. Consider conducting small-scale pilot programs to demonstrate the feasibility and benefits of telehealth, generating real-world evidence that can alleviate doubts and build support. 

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4. Showcase Tangible Success

Actions speak louder than words. As you advocate for telehealth, look for opportunities to showcase tangible successes. Share stories of improved patient outcomes, increased access to care, and more efficient workflows. Quantifiable results will serve as compelling evidence, making it easier for decision-makers and colleagues to embrace the positive impact of telehealth.

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5. Find a Tailor Made Solution for Children

Many pediatric providers are reluctant to adopt telehealth as they have experienced difficulties engaging children and addressing their clinical needs with technology built for adults. At Kismet, we know that children are not just tiny adults and that conventional telehealth solutions were not built with their developmental and psychological needs in mind. That is why we created a solution built by providers, for providers in the pediatric space. Current platforms like zoom, webx, skype etc. were created for adults and work meetings – children need their own hospitals and providers, they need their own telehealth solution as well. 

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Becoming a telehealth champion is not just about embracing a new technology; it's about leading a transformative shift in the way healthcare is delivered. In the world of pediatrics, finding a solution that is made for children is crucial, and at the same time it needs to be a natural piece of your clinical workflow for adoption to be successful. By educating, addressing concerns, collaborating, and showcasing successes, providers can pave the way for a more connected and patient-focused healthcare future and an easier adoption of a telehealth solution. 

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About: Kismet Health is the first pediatric telehealth platform designed for providers, by providers, to boost patient engagement, streamline workflows, and improve clinical outcomes for children ages 0-18. With Kismet’s proprietary technology and digital playroom clinicians can focus on what they do best – providing quality care to families everywhere, while enabling a cost-efficient and high standard of care. 

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Book a demo with our team to see the product for yourself and get 30 days free to test with your team.