The Skills Needed to Work in Telehealth

Are you interested in working in healthcare?

11:54 09 July 2020

If so, you might like the idea of working in telehealth. Telehealth is a rapidly growing industry with lots of different jobs to choose from, and all of the work is remote (so you will never need to relocate for work).

 

But what skills do you need to work in telehealth? Do you need previous experience as a doctor, or is a medical qualification enough?

Here are the skills and qualifications you need if you want to work in telehealth.

 

Medical Licenses in Multiple States

 

If you want to work in the healthcare industry normally one medical license is more than enough, but if you work in telehealth it is very likely you will need medical licenses in multiple states. This is because telehealth workers diagnose people all across the US, so if you live in New York and you want to diagnose someone in Florida, you will need a second medical license from Florida.

 

Great Webside Manner

 

For most doctors and nurses, a great bedside manner is essential – but when it comes to working in telehealth, it is even more important to have a good webside manner! Many people feel nervous or scared if they have having health problems, and this can feel even more intense if you are being diagnosed over video chat. For this reason it is essential to spend time making patients feel comfortable and relaxed, even if you are not physically in the same room as each other. You can do this by using clear communication, positive body language and presenting yourself in a professional, calm way.

 

A Clean Care Record

 

If you want to work in telehealth it is normally essential to have a clean care record. Any issues or problems could make it a challenge for you to find work, so if this is the case we suggest looking for work in a different industry. We also don’t suggest trying to hide past problems, as this will immediately discount you as a candidate – instead be responsible and accountable for your actions.

 

Medical Qualifications

 

You will need relevant medical qualifications to work in telehealth. Very few medical professionals actually study telehealth at university or college; instead they gain a medical degree, such as the MHA degree from Boston College, and then when they graduate they start gaining telehealth experience. For instance, they may work at a hospital that allows them to video chat with patients throughout the treatment process.

 

A Dedicated Medical Resume

 

Finally, this may seem obvious, but if you want to work in telehealth you must create a dedicated medical resume that highlights your interest in telehealth. List your qualifications and experiences, including any previous telehealth work you have done – and if you find that you don’t have much telehealth experience, consider doing volunteer work to bolster your resume. This will make it clear to employers that you are interested in telehealth work, rather than general healthcare roles.