Microsoft Teams for telehealth
Who would have thought an application for endless work meetings could empower healthcare professionals? Virtual consultations, secure messaging, appointment scheduling, media sharing, and other helpful features – all combined in one single application.
Microsoft Teams isn’t just about productivity – it’s changing commonplace routines in the healthcare industry.
As a Microsoft Gold Certified Partner, we worked on numerous healthcare integrations over the last decades. Stay tuned for our key insights.
What is Microsoft Teams?
Microsoft Teams, part of Microsoft 365, is the rolled-into-one toolkit that allows working smarter, not harder. Audio and video conferencing, instant messaging, project management, file sharing, and other useful features are all wrapped up in one sleek package.
Microsoft Teams is the go-to choice, whether surviving another stand-up, discussing updates, or brainstorming. It’s built to keep every participant on the same page, even when you are scattered across different countries.
Microsoft Teams for telehealth: key features
What’s the best part about using Microsoft Teams for telehealth?
Audio and video conferencing
You probably won’t argue this one – telehealth provisioning is all about uninterrupted, intelligible interaction. Microsoft Teams may not be perfect, but it definitely delivers both crystal-clear audio and video connection.
If there’s something wrong, it’s probably the unstable Internet connection.
Meeting Lobbies
Picture virtual waiting rooms without cringy medical posters, that weird small talk, and risky illness exposure. Microsoft Teams has got your back – patient check-in without risking to compromise sensitive conversations.
What’s more, that’s also quite convenient for the patient too.
Custom templates
Microsoft Teams’ custom templates allow companies to play around with everyday workflows and processes. Patient intake and registration, shift scheduling, emergency triage, medication prescriptions and approval – you adapt the templates to meet your needs.
Who says healthcare delivery is a one-size-fits-all affair?
Custom notifications
Microsoft Teams’ custom notifications allow companies to stay in the routine loop without drowning in alerts. By adapting your notifications, you prioritize what matters.
No more inbox overload!
But is Microsoft Teams HIPAA compliant for telehealth?
Microsoft Teams can be HIPAA compliant for telehealth, but only when configured and used in compliance. End-to-end encryption (in transit, at rest), multi-factor authentication, access controls, session timeouts –Microsoft provides critical measures, but still, some steps are left to users.
- Before anything, sign the Business Associate Agreement (BAA) with the Microsoft Corporation
- What’s more, implement additional security policies and procedures for proper data handling
Microsoft Teams HIPAA compliance: best practices
As experts in designing healthcare-specific products, we know everything there’s to know about compliance. Our expertise spans well-known HIPAA & GDPR regulations, HL7, FHIR, CDA, DICOM, and other key guidelines, so there’s nothing to worry about when we take over your healthcare project.
Let’s talk about how to use Microsoft Teams for telehealth, so that it meets the established HIPAA regulations.
Risk assessment
It’s not the most glamorous process, but catching security issues before escalation can save you headaches. Before leveraging Microsoft Teams, you need to identify potential vulnerabilities before they can escalate.
Preventive measures are key, like flossing.
Employee training
A little extra effort can save you from the chaos coming with data breaches and other security vulnerabilities. Before introducing Microsoft Teams, you need to ensure everyone understands your policies and procedures, carefully handles protected health information (PHI), and follows HIPAA guidelines.
Your people can be your strongest (or weakest) security layer.
Secure integrations
Third-party integrations multiply value, but not all integrations play nice with established HIPAA guidelines. Before integrating additional services, make sure they’re compliant.
Third-party integrations are cool, but they must play by the house rules.
Audit logging and monitoring
Audit logging and monitoring is like your diary – you record every interaction, no matter if good or suspicious. When viewing saved activities, you can easily sport strange interactions – for example, unauthorized access – and eliminate potential issues before escalation.
It’s better to catch shady stuff early than to deal with full-blown data drama.
Microsoft Teams telehealth applications
Therapy sessions, telemedicine consultations, group sessions, care coordination, is there anything else?
Health conferences and webinars
Microsoft Teams is your backstage manager, event host, sound engineer, light technician – all rolled into one. The platform handles everything from real-time streaming sessions to interactive question-and-answer panels – your audience stays engaged and informed.
Bonus points: no awkward microphone handoffs.
Employee training and education
Microsoft Teams quickly transforms traditional training and education into engaging, interactive experiences. The platform supports tutorials, pre-recorded modules, image and video sharing, progress tracking, and more.
You can keep your employees up-to-date on the latest protocols without arranging in-person meetings.
Microsoft Teams: HIPAA-compliant alternatives
Microsoft Team’s isn’t your only option when working with us.
Zoom Workspace
Zoom Workspace is more than just audio and video conferencing – it’s an all-in-one platform for efficiency. Breakout rooms, screen sharing and recording, great compatibility, data analytics and reporting, and more – and all that under HIPAA compliance.
Zoom Workspace might benefit:
- Small & medium practices
- Telehealth-focused providers
- Specialized practices
- Global practices
Moving further, discover also:
- Telehealth extension by integrating Zoom Workspace
- Telehealth platform with integrated medical devices
Google Meet
Google Meet for telehealth, goes beyond high-quality meetings – it programs daily routines for productivity. Audio and video consultations, secure messaging, and other critical features in combination with Calendar, Drive, Gmail, and other Google utilities.
Google Meet might benefit:
- Small & medium practices
- Healthcare providers already leveraging Google Workspace
- General practices
- Multi-location teams
In particular, by facilitating:
- Psychotherapy meetings
- Educational workshops
- Physiotherapy sessions
- Supervised rehabilitation, and other remote activities
How we can help
Microsoft Teams isn’t just some tool – it’s the modern bridge between your healthcare services and innovation. Virtual check-ups, second opinions, post-surgical follow-up, discharge planning, and other everyday routines – Microsoft Teams will have you covered.
But picking a platform is just the start – don’t forget business analysis, planning, preparation, and integration. Abto Software is here to make it happen.
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