8 red flags to avoid when choosing a telehealth doctor
Nowadays, you can find almost any type of service online — buying clothes, getting your food delivered without having to interact with the delivery person and getting personal recommendations of the best vacation spots by an online chatbot, just to name a few. Everything is within the grasp of your hand, including finding a telehealth doctor.
There are many benefits of getting a telehealth doctor: it’s convenient, efficient and you don’t have to worry about getting sicker at the doctor’s office. But there are several things to consider before finding a telehealth doctor.
Here are eight red flags to watch out for when choosing a telehealth doctor.
1. Partnering with a non-licensed telehealth marketer
Without an official telehealth marketer license, the chance of getting scammed is very high. When generation companies or call centers partner with third-party telehealth marketers, they can pose as telehealth coordinators and charge you per consultation or prescription.
When approached by a third-party company, check to see if the telehealth provider is licensed in your state and always ask clarifying questions, like where they are based and how they were referred, to decipher if the company is a scam or not.
2. No real medical evaluation
Going to a telehealth doctor’s appointment should be the same as any other doctor’s appointment. Telehealth doctors should be asking you the proper and standard consultation in order to prescribe medicine. If your appointment consisted only of a questionnaire, that raises a safety concern and an immediate red flag.
3. Lack of proper patient documentation in a telehealth session
If you find your telehealth session has incomplete or missing documentation, this is an immediate red flag. Once you’re getting billed for the session, payers need the proper medical records, like your medical history, assessments and virtual exam limitations. from your telehealth doctor to do so properly. The best way to avoid such encounters is to use a telehealth-specific template that checks off all the things your telehealth doctor should be asking.
4. Promising results
Reliable telehealth doctors shouldn’t be guaranteeing results. If a telehealth session is rooted in testimonials or influencer endorsements, promising results without a proper medical evaluation, this should raise concerns about safety and be examined carefully.
5. No information on where the medicine comes from
You are entitled to know where your medication comes from. Whether it’s a commercial brand-name product or from a licensed compounding pharmacy, understanding where your medication is coming from is vital when choosing your telehealth doctor.
6. Billing without consent
Like a typical medical appointment, your doctor should be walking you through what types of medications you’ll be paid for. If a telehealth doctor charges you for something you didn’t want or something you weren’t aware of, this would be considered an immediate red flag.
7. Offering telehealth services across state lines without a proper license
Telehealth doctors shouldn’t be treating a patient from Washington when they’re not licensed there. Not having a state-proper license is illegal and can lead to telehealth being fined or even facing a criminal charge. The easiest way is to check the area code and see if the doctor is based in your state.
8. No meaningful follow-ups
Especially with ongoing prescriptions, it’s important that you and your telehealth doctor schedule follow-up appointments that are productive. This includes scheduled check-ins, lab reviews and ways to adjust your treatment.
Wrap up
While it’s easy in this day and age to spot a real doctor versus a fraudulent one in telehealth, there are some things that may not be considered. With these red flags to spot, choosing your telehealth doctor an easier process.
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