The American Telemedicine Association released draft Practice Guidelines for Real-time, Direct-to-Patient Primary Urgent Care Telemedicine and is seeking public comments through June 20, 2014.
These guidelines are particularly useful and informative for businesses seeking to implement new (or refine existing) direct-to-patient models of telemedicine, including mobile-based platforms allowing patients immediate access to a provider for triage and urgent care purposes. Practice guidelines can serve as a useful reference point for the development of a provider's standards of care, policies and practices regarding telemedicine and telehealth, and foundation for the deployment of telemedicine services. Standards of practice constitute the basis for uniform, quality patient care and safety, grounded in empirical research and clinical experience.
These draft Guidelines For Real-time, Direct-to-Patient Primary Urgent Care Telemedicine cover the provision of direct-to-patient, primary and urgent care services delivered by licensed health care providers using real-time, two-way videoconferencing and telephonic technologies. Such technologies include mobile devices such smart phones, laptops, or tablets where regulatory conditions permit.
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