Updated for 2024: The 21 Best Telemedicine Software Providers

Key Takeaways

• A telemedicine platform allows patients to receive medical care from the comfort of their own homes and reduces the risk of airborne or surface infection from in-person visits.
• Telemedicine has been a game-changing practice management tool in the healthcare industry, especially in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic.
• Keep reading to discover 21 of the best telemedicine services around.

The COVID-19 pandemic has changed the way we approach healthcare. With social distancing and other safety measures in place, telemedicine has emerged as an essential practice management tool for healthcare professionals to continue providing quality care to their patients.

Telemedicine refers to the use of technology to provide medical care and advice remotely. It allows patients to receive medical attention from the comfort of their homes, reducing the risk of exposure to infectious diseases and providing greater access to healthcare services.

Today we're going to take a look at the benefits of telemedicine, how to implement virtual medical care, and the key features to look for in telehealth solutions. We'll also have a quick review of the best telemedicine software providers available.

What Is Telemedicine Software?

We are all very familiar with telemedicine, and most of us have used some sort of telemedicine platform. But, like most things in the healthcare industry, there's a lot more to it than the surface features that most people are familiar with. So, just to make sure we're on the same page, let's define it.

Telemedicine software is a type of technology that enables healthcare professionals to provide medical advice, diagnosis, and treatment remotely. This technology can consist of a range of applications such as audio or video conferencing, website portals for medical information exchange, and patient education resources.

Telehealth software solutions can be used for anything from routine check-ups and consultations to more complex diagnoses and treatments. It gives healthcare providers access to patients who may not otherwise be able to receive care due to geographical or time constraints. It also allows them to save time by reducing travel costs.

Ultimately, a telemedicine solution improves patient outcomes while increasing efficiency in healthcare delivery.

How Healthcare Providers Use Telemedicine

Telemedicine can be used in a variety of medical fields, including primary care and specialty care. Here are some examples of how telemedicine is being used as a practice management tool:

1. Remote Consultations: Patients can consult with care providers remotely using video conferencing, phone calls, or messaging apps.
2. Remote Monitoring: Patients with chronic conditions can use wearable devices to monitor their health remotely. Healthcare organizations can receive this data and adjust treatment plans accordingly.
3. Prescription Refills: Patients can request prescription refills remotely, reducing the need for in-person appointments.
4. Second Opinions: Patients can seek second opinions from specialists remotely, reducing the need for travel and the associated costs.
5. Mental Health Services: Telemedicine is particularly useful for providing psychological health services, allowing patients to receive counseling and therapy from the comfort of their homes.

Benefits of Telemedicine

Telemedicine offers several benefits to both patients and care providers. Here are some of the advantages of a telehealth practice management tool:

Improved Access to Care

Telemedicine software solutions allow medical professionals to remotely connect with patients, using internet-enabled devices such as computers, tablets, and smartphones. This makes it possible for patients to access healthcare services from anywhere, at any time.

The use of telemedicine can reduce the cost of healthcare, as it eliminates the need for physical appointments and reduces wait times for busy clinics. By providing convenient access to medical advice and treatment, it helps remove barriers to healthcare access for populations living in remote or rural areas.

Time-Savings

For patients, telemedicine eliminates the need to travel long distances to medical appointments or wait in long lines at busy clinics. This can save them considerable amounts of time that would otherwise be spent commuting and waiting around for an appointment.

For healthcare-providing organizations, telemedicine eliminates the need to conduct in-person consultations with multiple patients, as they can now quickly assess patient needs remotely and recommend treatments online. In addition, it can help reduce paperwork and administrative tasks associated with traditional healthcare delivery, allowing care providers more time to focus on providing quality care to their patients.

Such a practice management tool also helps reduce wait times for specialist consultations by making them available remotely.

Cost-Effectiveness

By eliminating the need for patients to travel, it eliminates the expenses associated with transportation. Telemedicine also eliminates the need for multiple appointments, which helps reduce wait times and overall time spent on patient visits, thereby reducing the cost associated with personnel and facility rental.

In addition, telemedicine can work as a practice management tool by reducing paperwork and administrative overhead associated with traditional healthcare delivery. By providing remote access to healthcare services, it can improve health outcomes by reducing unnecessary hospitalizations or emergency room visits.

Improved Patient Outcomes

Another primary benefit is improved access to care for those in rural or underserved areas. By providing patients with remote access to healthcare services, telemedicine eliminates the need to travel long distances or wait in long lines at busy clinics. This can improve outcomes by giving patients timely access to specialty care and necessary treatments.

Telemedicine also provides increased communication between patient and provider, which helps ensure that treatment plans are properly followed and patient concerns are addressed quickly. By reducing administrative overhead associated with traditional healthcare delivery, telemedicine offers faster response times when dealing with urgent medical needs or questions.

Overall, telemedicine has the potential to significantly improve patient outcomes by increasing access and communication between patients and providers.

Flexibility

Telemedicine offers increased flexibility for care providers to offer consultations outside of normal business hours. By utilizing secure video connectivity, telemedicine provides an efficient and cost-saving platform for providers to connect with their patients without the need to physically be in the same location. This capability makes it possible for doctors to consult with patients from different time zones or far-reaching areas.

Telemedicine eliminates wait times associated with traditional healthcare delivery because patients do not have to physically travel to a clinic or hospital. It also allows physicians and other healthcare professionals to connect with their patients in real time through the use of patient health records and instant messaging platforms.

How to Implement Telemedicine Software

To implement telemedicine software, care providers should follow these steps:

1. Research and evaluate your options for telemedicine solutions: Consider factors like cost, features, and compatibility with existing technology.
2. Train health providers and staff: Provide training on how to use the telemedicine solution and how to interact with patients virtually.
3. Promote telemedicine services to patients: Use marketing and outreach strategies to inform patients of the virtual medical care options available to them. This can significantly improve patient engagement.
4. Ensure compliance with privacy and security regulations: Follow HIPAA telemedicine guidelines to protect patient privacy and security when using telemedicine software.

Top Telemedicine Software Providers

The following are some of the top telemedicine solutions in 2024, each with its own unique features and benefits. Some specialize in certain areas, such as catering to the largest enterprises or the smallest private practices. Others will assist specialty practices, such as a dentist or mental health specialist. Some will come as part of a suite that includes revenue cycle management and medical billing help.

Mend

Mend offers HIPAA-compliant telemedicine software with a user-friendly interface, virtual waiting room, and customizable branding. Its software is compatible with multiple medical devices and integrates with EHRs.

Doxy.me

Doxy.me offers simple and secure telehealth software with no downloads required. Its software is also HIPAA-compliant and includes features like customizable waiting rooms and virtual backgrounds.

AMC Health

AMC Health provides a telemedicine solution with remote patient monitoring and virtual care coordination. Its software is designed to improve patient outcomes and reduce healthcare costs.

swyMed

swyMed offers telemedicine software with real-time video communication and secure messaging. Its software is designed to support high-quality virtual medical care in remote or rural areas.

Teladoc

Teladoc offers virtual medical care through a network of practitioners across different areas. Its software is designed for non-emergency telehealth services and is accessible through a patient-doctor portal or mobile app.

VCDoctor

VCDoctor offers HIPAA-compliant telehealth software with online scheduling and patient payments. Its software is accessible through a web portal or mobile app, and includes features like virtual waiting rooms and secure messaging.

SecureVideo

SecureVideo is a telehealth platform that offers HIPAA-compliant online video conferencing and messaging services. The platform is designed for use by mental health professionals, such as therapists, counselors, and psychologists. It features end-to-end encryption of all video and audio calls, as well as data stored on the platform. SecureVideo also offers a mobile app for iPhone and Android devices.

Updox

Updox is a telehealth platform that offers video, messaging, and secure file-sharing services. The platform is designed for use by healthcare professionals, such as doctors, nurses, and pharmacists. Updox features include HIPAA compliance, 256-bit AES encryption, and two-factor authentication. Updox also offers a mobile app for iPhone and Android devices.

athenaOne

athenaOne is a telehealth platform that offers video conferencing, messaging, and secure file sharing services. The platform is designed for use by healthcare professionals, such as doctors, nurses, and pharmacists. athenaOne features include HIPAA compliance, 256-bit AES encryption, and two-factor authentication. athenaOne also offers a mobile app for iPhone and Android devices.

Klara

Klara is a telehealth platform that offers video, messaging, and secure file-sharing services. The platform is designed for use by healthcare professionals, such as doctors, nurses, and pharmacists. Klara features include HIPAA compliance, 256-bit AES encryption, and two-factor authentication. Klara also offers a mobile app for iPhone and Android devices.

Secure Telehealth

Secure Telehealth is a telehealth platform that offers video connectivity, messaging, and secure file-sharing services. The platform is designed for use by healthcare professionals, such as doctors, nurses, and pharmacists. Secure Telehealth features include HIPAA compliance, 256-bit AES encryption, and two-factor authentication. Secure Telehealth also offers a mobile app for iPhone and Android devices.

HIPAA Video

HIPAA Video is a telehealth platform that offers video services compliant with HIPAA. The platform is designed for use by healthcare professionals such as doctors, nurses, and pharmacists. The service's features include HIPAA-compliant end-to-end encryption of all video calls, as well as data stored on the platform. HIPAA Video also offers a mobile app for iPhone and Android devices.

Valant EHR Suite

Valant EHR Suite is a telehealth platform that offers electronic health record (EHR) software and HIPAA compliance. The platform is designed for use by healthcare professionals such as doctors, nurses, and pharmacists. Valant EHR Suite features include patient portals, provider directories, and online scheduling. Valant EHR Suite also offers a mobile app for iPhone and Android devices.

NextGen Virtual Visits

NextGen Virtual Visits is a comprehensive telehealth platform that enables care providers to easily collaborate with their patients. Providers can conduct medical appointments, share documents, and images, provide education, recommend lifestyle changes, and more—all from the comfort of their home or office. It also allows providers to securely store patient data and access it from anywhere at any time.

VCDoctor Lifecare

VCDoctor Lifecare is an online platform designed to bridge the gap between doctor and patient. Patients can connect with doctors through video, audio, or text messaging for quality healthcare services anytime, anywhere. They can also access medical records, lab results, and prescription refills in one place for easy access.

SimplePractice

SimplePractice is a cloud-based telehealth solution that helps healthcare practitioners provide enhanced care to their patients remotely. Providers can use live video, secure file transfer, and electronic health record-keeping tools to deliver superior quality service without having to be physically present with the patient.

TheraNest

TheraNest is a telehealth platform created specifically for mental health providers. This platform includes features like real-time appointment scheduling, electronic signature capabilities, HIPAA-compliant session recordings, secure document sharing, and more. This is all designed to make it easy for providers to practice remotely while ensuring the privacy of clients’ data remains intact.

Deputy

Deputy lets healthcare professionals use the power of technology to offer remote care services securely from any device or location, even those outside the office or clinic setting. With Deputy’s intuitive forms builder, you can create custom intake forms for each client quickly; you can also leverage its built-in integration with popular faxing solutions so that clients don’t have to wait on physical paperwork in order to start treatment immediately.

TherapyNotes

TherapyNotes is a comprehensive telehealth system geared towards therapists and counselors who want to bring their clinical services online quickly and easily. Quickly send messages via SMS or email directly within the app, set up secure video calls with your clients, or request digital signatures from them—all within one streamlined system.

BlueJeans

BlueJeans is a secure, HIPAA-compliant telehealth platform that enables care providers to offer medical advice and consultations remotely. It features encrypted messaging and file-sharing tools, remote monitoring capabilities, automated appointment reminders, and more in a streamlined workflow designed to help clinicians focus on providing quality care to their patients.

ChiroFusion

ChiroFusion is a cloud-based telehealth platform designed to meet the needs of chiropractors. It includes integrated medical billing services, scheduling, and analytics tools, as well as secure video and patient monitoring capabilities. Additionally, it provides access to digital wellness programs and educational materials for patients.

Key Features of Telemedicine Software

When evaluating options from telemedicine software vendors, it is important to consider the following key features:

HIPAA Compliance

Healthcare software must be HIPAA-compliant, which means it complies with the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) to protect patient privacy and security. This includes any connection to patient portals or a HIPAA-compliant website.

Compatibility with Multiple Devices

Telemedicine software should be accessible through a variety of devices, including smartphones, tablets, and computers.

Integration with EHRs

Telehealth software should integrate with electronic health records for efficient and streamlined care.

Customizable Branding

Telemedicine software should allow health providers to brand their virtual medical services for a professional and consistent look and feel.

User-Friendly Interface

Telemedicine software should be easy to use for both medical practices and patients. User-friendliness always increases patient engagement.

Secure Messaging and File Sharing

Telemedicine software should include protected messaging and file-sharing capabilities to facilitate communication between care providers and patients.

Virtual Waiting Room

Telemedicine software should include a virtual waiting room feature to manage patient flow and reduce wait times.

Clarity Ventures and Your Telemedicine Platform

HIPAA and telemedicine is changing the way we approach healthcare, offering patients greater access to medical services and reducing the burden on medical practices. By providing quality care remotely, telemedicine offers several benefits to patients, including improved access to care, cost savings, and improved outcomes.

Clarity Ventures wants to help you make the most of any telemedicine services you purchase, whether you're already using it or are looking to upgrade. No matter the EMR/EHR systems you want to integrate with, we can make it happen. Get in touch today to see exactly what we can do.