Telemedicine: Preparation and Workflow | University of Rochester Medicine

Patient arrives at office/community hospital and checks in at recommended time (at least 15 minutes before start of telemedicine visit).
Nurse or medical assistant (if medication does not need to be administered by injection) trained in telemedicine brings patient to room with telemedicine cart or computer equipped for patient visit.
Nurse/MA collects urine sample, checks temperature of sample, and submits it to lab.

Nurse/MA initiates telehealth visit and stays with patient during visit in case of questions.
Provider starts visit from remote location and meets with patient.
Provider documents visit (may be needed at patient site as well, if billing is done separately).
Scheduling of subsequent appointment.
Provider sends prescription to pharmacy at end of visit when follow-up interval is discussed.

Program coordinator/staff member in practice counsels patient on how to use Zoom Professional or other HIPAA-approved platform from their smart phone or computer.
Patient is informed about how payment/copays for telehealth appointments work.
Patient is advised to finding private setting for appointments.
Patient learns about downloading application, installing updates, and arriving in virtual waiting room in advance; has opportunity to practice.

Staff are available to update patient if provider is running more than 10 minutes late. (Patient should remain logged in.)
Provider starts visit from remote location and meets with patient.
Provider documents visit and schedules follow-up with patient.
Provider sends prescription to pharmacy and sends requisition for subsequent urinalysis to lab.
Note: Since nurse/MA cannot check temperature of urine sample when visit is not in person, home-based telemedicine should be used only for very stable patients.

Provider “locks” meeting after patient joins (precaution against “Zoom bombing”).
Provider has patient’s phone number and can switch to phone visit if technical/internet issues occur.
Recommended: Provider schedules follow-up appointment with patient during visit.