Table 1.

Strategies to support high-quality endocrine care via telehealth

Use a combination of in-person and telehealth care.
Complete required assessments or testing at sites close to patient's home when possible.
Allow multidisciplinary care team members to engage patient via different modalities as appropriate.
Mix telehealth and in-person visits as part of a longitudinal care plan via shared decision-making process.
Conclude each visit with careful consideration of optimal care modality for next encounter.
Anticipate and address patient needs related to telehealth.
Establish practice criteria for use of audio-only and video telehealth.
Allow patients the flexibility to change modality of scheduled visit if needed.
Proactively assess need for language interpretation services before telehealth encounters.
Clarify expectations with patient that telehealth will require a private, quiet, safe location for visit.
Facilitate previsit outreach by clinic support staff to assist with technology and sharing of pertinent patient-generated health data.
Engage caregivers to participate in visits and/or support patient's use of necessary technology.
Develop personal best practices and skills specific to telehealth.
Ensure private, quiet space from which to deliver care, with adequate and secure broadband access.
Strengthen relationships over telehealth through building skills in remote engagement and trust-building.
Become familiar with telehealth hardware, software, clinical workflows, and licensing requirements.
Develop strong relationships and norms for bidirectional communication with referring clinicians.
Participate in telehealth training within endocrinology fellowship programs and professional conferences.
Promote health system processes that optimize the telehealth experience and access.
Adopt telehealth platforms with advanced features like screen sharing and electronic health record integration, and that support broad access, including availability in multiple languages.
Leverage clinical and information technology staff to support telehealth workflows and improve efficiency of virtual care.
Advocate for policies that expand access and affordability of telehealth.