{"id":27026,"date":"2021-04-13T12:07:04","date_gmt":"2021-04-13T12:07:04","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.syscreations.ca\/blog\/?p=27026"},"modified":"2021-04-19T07:36:42","modified_gmt":"2021-04-19T07:36:42","slug":"skype-zoom-for-telemedicine","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.syscreations.ca\/blog\/skype-zoom-for-telemedicine\/","title":{"rendered":"\u201cCan I Use Skype or Zoom for Telemedicine or Virtual Care?\u201d"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p><strong><span style=\"color:#dd0055\" class=\"has-inline-color\">You must not.&nbsp;<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Why? \u2026&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h1><strong>The \u2018legal reason\u2019 for not using Skype or Zoom for telemedicine<\/strong><\/h1>\n\n\n\n<p><span style=\"color:#7b68ee\" class=\"has-inline-color\">Because, according to the Canadian data privacy laws &#8211; imposed by federal and provincial governments &#8211; the telemedicine tool must be compliant with privacy laws.&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>And in Canada, there are different privacy laws applicable to healthcare providers and digital healthcare tools in different provinces.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><span style=\"color:#7b68ee\" class=\"has-inline-color\">For instance, PIPEDA applies at the federal level. PHIPA applies in Ontario. PIA applies in Alberta and so on.&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><span style=\"color:#7b68ee\" class=\"has-inline-color\">And both Skype and Zoom are not compliant with all these laws. Actually, it is not feasible for them to be compliant with all data privacy laws.<\/span>&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Because these platforms are not designed to handle the medical data of patients securely.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><span style=\"color:#7b68ee\" class=\"has-inline-color\">Thus you must not use Skype, Zoom or Facetime for virtual care as they put medical data privacy and confidentiality at risk and that\u2019s not what privacy commissioners recommend.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong><span style=\"color:#dd0055\" class=\"has-inline-color\">You should know this fact:&nbsp;<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Skype is not HIPAA compliant. To make it HIPAA compliant, you must purchase the Enterprise E3 or E5 package which ensures the privacy of medical data.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2><strong>What if you still use Skype or Zoom for telemedicine or virtual care&nbsp;<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>We never encourage anyone to use Skype or Zoom for virtual care practice. But there are many healthcare providers who are still using it.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><span style=\"color:#7b68ee\" class=\"has-inline-color\">Recently, in Oklahoma, USA &#8211; a doctor got busted for practising telemedicine using Skype.&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>He used to prescribe controlled dangerous drugs using Skype and the patient known as R.C. died while under that doctor\u2019s care.&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><span style=\"color:#7b68ee\" class=\"has-inline-color\">Now, leaving all legal reasons behind, let\u2019s talk about the clinical reasons.<\/span>&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2><strong>The \u2018clinical\u2019 reasons for not using Zoom or Skype for telemedicine<\/strong>&nbsp;<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>First of all, telemedicine is not only about video calls.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><span style=\"color:#7b68ee\" class=\"has-inline-color\">It is all about the entire clinical workflow &#8211; from appointment booking to virtual consultation, ePrescription and follow-up meetings.&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Thus, healthcare providers who are planning to use Zoom and Skype for telehealth should ask these questions first,&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul><li><strong><span style=\"color:#dd0055\" class=\"has-inline-color\">How would I let my patients book the appointment?<\/span><\/strong><\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p><span style=\"color:#7b68ee\" class=\"has-inline-color\">If they still need to call you to book the virtual appointment, you are not providing virtual care at all!&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Even if you take appointments on call, you still need to send a video calling link to each patient manually.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>And to join the video call, your patient must install Skype or Zoom!&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><span style=\"color:#7b68ee\" class=\"has-inline-color\">So, this way &#8211; rather than providing them with convenience in the name of virtual care, you are providing them with the inconvenience!&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul><li><strong><span style=\"color:#dd0055\" class=\"has-inline-color\">How would I know the medical history of the patients?<\/span>&nbsp;<\/strong><\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>Skype or Zoom does not let you integrate EHR to access patients\u2019 data in real-time.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><span style=\"color:#7b68ee\" class=\"has-inline-color\">If you are thinking to ask patients directly regarding their medical history, it is a time-consuming and ineffective approach. (And no one remembers his entire medical history!)<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul><li><strong><span style=\"color:#dd0055\" class=\"has-inline-color\">How would I write the ePrescription?<\/span>&nbsp;<\/strong><\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>If you are thinking of writing the prescription on paper, taking an image and sending it to patients, it is a time-consuming, insecure and non-compliant practice.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul><li><strong><span style=\"color:#dd0055\" class=\"has-inline-color\">How would I write the medical note and sick note?<\/span>&nbsp;<\/strong><\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>Skype or Zoom does not have the answer for this need!&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul><li><strong><span style=\"color:#dd0055\" class=\"has-inline-color\">How would I write the referral note and send it to secondary care providers?&nbsp;<\/span><\/strong><\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>With Skype and Zoom, you simply can\u2019t!&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul><li><strong><span style=\"color:#dd0055\" class=\"has-inline-color\">How would I charge?&nbsp;<\/span><\/strong><\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p><span style=\"color:#7b68ee\" class=\"has-inline-color\">People who are uninsured have to pay you. But how? Zoom and Skype do not support payment!<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>So, if Zoom and Skype are not legally and clinically recommended for telemedicine, what is the other option.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2><strong>The best alternative to Zoom and Skype for telemedicine is your own telemedicine app&nbsp;<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Yes, you should use a dedicated telemedicine app to offer a true virtual care experience to the patients.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Why? \u2026&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><span style=\"color:#7b68ee\" class=\"has-inline-color\">Because it streamlines the entire clinical workflow and makes you offer virtual care in the true sense.&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>And it is compliant with all applicable data privacy laws.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong><span style=\"color:#7b68ee\" class=\"has-inline-color\">Following is your clinical workflow with a dedicated telemedicine app:<\/span><\/strong>&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul><li><strong><span style=\"color:#dd0055\" class=\"has-inline-color\">Easy appointment booking<\/span>&nbsp;<\/strong><\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p><span style=\"color:#7b68ee\" class=\"has-inline-color\">Patients can book appointments online within minutes without calling anyone. If the appointment date or time gets changed by the physician, the patients get an automatic update.&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Additionally, patients can book the appointment based on their medical condition or the medical specialty they are looking for.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image is-resized\"><img loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/lh3.googleusercontent.com\/C9pwPtagREYBRs8VLk42bp-eZ-Th-eVhCl-2rZdbUb-ylkyECT4E2MuBLrlsgJXxpWcRpli2ClPLZSXxDw-nPkgLfRwHWeyCVBq5ZORV4IV9cv-9wyLOTX74dlz8SbhjH9fJ0yZ9\" alt=\"\" width=\"310\" height=\"671\"\/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image is-resized\"><img loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/lh3.googleusercontent.com\/u-eQ9H3rd5AITYvz7ov-ZzmxSIJ0uAyhWPpwSFHwCuuav45w75gwjZpJSJfY2qxYaYfSHH1hMqwf_KjTqtRFtzJys1Y_zMneDl3EmqNOFaiOH8MGT_U4O9ad_jQzt5wj9EeMF5za\" alt=\"\" width=\"302\" height=\"654\"\/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<ul><li><strong><span style=\"color:#dd0055\" class=\"has-inline-color\">Easy access to medical data of patients&nbsp;<\/span><\/strong><\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>Thanks to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.syscreations.ca\/blog\/ehr-integration-in-ontario-canada\/\"><span style=\"color:#7b68ee\" class=\"has-inline-color\"><u>EHR\/EMR integration<\/u><\/span><\/a>, healthcare providers can get the real-time medical data of patients. With this data, they can offer quality care.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul><li><strong><span style=\"color:#dd0055\" class=\"has-inline-color\">ePrescription&nbsp;<\/span><\/strong><\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p><span style=\"color:#7b68ee\" class=\"has-inline-color\">Healthcare providers can search for drugs and write the ePrescription on the telemedicine platform itself.&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>This prescription is later sent to the selected pharmacy of the patient automatically.&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul><li><strong><span style=\"color:#dd0055\" class=\"has-inline-color\">Write medical note\/sick note <\/span><\/strong><\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>With many ready-to-use templates, the healthcare providers can write the medical note and sick note within minutes which can be accessible in PDF format.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul><li><strong><span style=\"color:#dd0055\" class=\"has-inline-color\">Write referral notes and refer to specialists<\/span>&nbsp;<\/strong><\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>The primary healthcare providers can easily refer patients to the secondary care providers with an easy-to-write and easy-to-generate referral note.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><span style=\"color:#7b68ee\" class=\"has-inline-color\">The referral note gets generated automatically and here, primary care providers only need to write a refer message.&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The app writes the rest of the things such as patients\u2019 details and your introductory message by itself.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul><li><strong><span style=\"color:#dd0055\" class=\"has-inline-color\">Medication reminder&nbsp;<\/span><\/strong><\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>The app reminds patients to take medication on time and also reminds them to book follow-up meetings.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul><li><strong><span style=\"color:#dd0055\" class=\"has-inline-color\">Billing&nbsp;<\/span><\/strong><\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>The app verifies the health card number of users. And if it is valid, the app does not charge users anything.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><span style=\"color:#7b68ee\" class=\"has-inline-color\">For uninsured patients, the app has a payment module from where users can pay the fee using several payment methods.&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2><strong>Switching from Skype\/Zoom to your own telemedicine app\/web is easy with us!&nbsp;<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>We\u2019re Ontario-based tech and compliance experts.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>We have been proactive in the Canadian healthcare industry for 7 years.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><span style=\"color:#7b68ee\" class=\"has-inline-color\">We accommodate app developers, app designers, business experts and compliance experts who all work together to build the best clone or custom telemedicine app.&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><span style=\"color:#7b68ee\" class=\"has-inline-color\">We also offer a HIPAA\/PHIPA\/PIPEDA and other provincial privacy laws compliant white-label telemedicine solution.<\/span>&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Being a Canadian company, we understand the gravity of compliance.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>And we clearly understand the working of the Canadian healthcare industry.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><span style=\"color:#7b68ee\" class=\"has-inline-color\">This industry and region-specific knowledge help us to address the most unique challenges of healthcare providers and systems.&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>On the concluding note, we are thrilled to share our most recent <u><a href=\"https:\/\/www.syscreations.ca\/telemedicine-startup-ontario\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><strong><span style=\"color:#7b68ee\" class=\"has-inline-color\"><u>case study on telemedicine app development<\/u><\/span><\/strong><\/a>.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>You must not.&nbsp; Why? \u2026&nbsp; The \u2018legal reason\u2019 for not using Skype or Zoom for telemedicine Because, according to the Canadian data privacy laws &#8211; imposed by federal and provincial governments &#8211; the telemedicine tool must be compliant with privacy laws.&nbsp; And in Canada, there are different privacy laws applicable to healthcare providers and digital [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":4,"featured_media":27031,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[10],"tags":[],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v16.1.1 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/wordpress\/plugins\/seo\/ -->\n<title>Can I Use Skype or Zoom for Telemedicine or Virtual Care?<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Know why healthcare providers should not use Skype or Zoom for telemedicine or virtual care in Canada and what is the alternative.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.syscreations.ca\/blog\/skype-zoom-for-telemedicine\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Why Not Telemedicine With Skype?\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Legal and clinical challenges + best alternative\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/www.syscreations.ca\/blog\/skype-zoom-for-telemedicine\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"SyS Creations - IT Management, Compliance &amp; 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