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Everything You Need To Know About Becoming a Telehealth Provider

Telehealth has become a massive industry over the past decade, and patients aren’t the only ones who benefit. Primary care doctors can also benefit from telehealth by gaining control of their hours and earning potential from the comfort of home. If you’re interested in becoming a telehealth provider, Circle Medical might be the right place for you! In this blog, we’ll talk about how you can become a telehealth provider and the benefits that come with taking your career remote. Read on to learn more.

A Brief Introduction

The world of healthcare has benefited from advancements in technology in more ways than one. While technology is important for diagnostics and treatment, it can also make the process of receiving care more convenient for patients and doctors alike. While there is still plenty of need for in-person clinics, a hybrid approach is gradually becoming preferred by many primary care patients. More providers are also choosing to take their careers to a telehealth environment, for good reason.

Before diving into the process of becoming a telehealth provider, let’s take a look at how telehealth and remote medicine have risen to prominence in recent years.

The Rise of Telehealth and Remote Medicine

Telehealth has been around longer than most people know, but it truly exploded in popularity in recent years. This was partially due to necessity with the COVID-19 pandemic. The pandemic created a situation where patients were either unwilling or unable to go to an in-person clinic for general primary care needs. Thus, virtual primary care became a common and viable solution.

Telehealth allows patients and providers to connect remotely, typically over a video call. The advancement in video calling technology, electronic medical records and other conveniences have made it easier than ever for patients to receive care virtually.

Telehealth is gradually revolutionizing primary care, giving doctors and patients more flexibility and convenience when it comes to providing and receiving care. Now is a more exciting time than ever to consider switching to a telehealth career over a more traditional primary care clinic. But how do you go about becoming a telehealth provider? Let’s dive into that process next.

How To Become an Online Doctor or Provider

Becoming an online doctor or provider can be a rewarding career choice that allows you to make a significant impact in people’s lives from the comfort of your own home. If you’re interested in becoming an online provider yourself, here’s how you can get started:

  • Get the Required Qualifications and Credentials — Of course, you will need the appropriate qualifications and credentials to operate as an online primary care provider. Along with obtaining your degree, you will also need to obtain a medical license for the state you work in. You may also require additional certifications for telehealth, depending on where you live. You may also require additional licenses or certifications to practice in telemedicine depending on where you live and where you are applying.
  • Become Proficient in Telehealth-Specific Skills — Telehealth requires some soft skills to thrive. Learning how to communicate through virtual channels and using patient portals will be necessary in telehealth settings. It can be helpful to train in the technologies required for this field.
  • Research Telehealth Platforms and Opportunities — Now that you have everything you need to apply, you can begin searching for telehealth opportunities and online clinics where you can work. Find a telehealth clinic that works best for you and fits your style of working.

Let’s go over some of the specific qualifications and requirements you’ll need if you plan on becoming an online primary care provider.

Qualifications and Requirements

Each clinic may have its own set of requirements, but generally, the qualifications for telehealth primary care careers include the following;

  • MD, DO, or NP-C actively licensed to practice medicine in at least one of the aforementioned states
  • Board certification in Family or Internal Medicine
  • Prior experience in a clinical setting working with adult patient populations

If you are unsure about whether you have the necessary qualifications and experience to pursue a career in telehealth, it may be helpful to speak with other health care professionals who have already made the transition to this type of work. They can provide valuable insights and advice that can help you make informed decisions about your career path. You can also look into the specific application process for different clinics to see what they require.

What Are the Benefits of this Position?

As with any job, it's important to weigh the benefits against the challenges. So, what are some of the advantages of pursuing a telehealth career in primary care? For most people, the biggest benefits include:

  • Increased flexibility — Undoubtedly, one of the biggest benefits of working in telehealth is the increased flexibility that it allows compared to traditional primary care clinics. You can achieve a better work-life balance by setting your own hours and working on a more normal schedule. You also save time by avoiding a daily commute.
  • Comfort — One of the best things about working from home is working in the most comfortable environment possible. You can customize your home office how you see fit.
  • Expanded patient base — Telehealth opens up your practice to a wider breadth of patients. Patients who live in remote areas or even different cities can connect with you and take you on as a provider, expanding your potential patient base more than you could in a traditional clinic.
  • Lower overhead costs — As an online provider, you don't need to worry about the overhead costs associated with running a physical clinic, such as rent, utilities and office supplies. This can result in higher earnings for you.

Exciting career growth — The telehealth industry is rapidly growing and evolving, with new technology and innovation driving change. Pursuing a career in this field offers exciting opportunities for personal and professional growth as you stay up-to-date with the latest advancements.

Apply for Jobs With Circle Medical

If you’re interested in becoming a telehealth provider, Circle Medical is interested in seeing your application! We currently operate in the states of AZ, CA, CO, DC, FL, IL, NJ, NM, NY, MA, MD, NV, OR, PA, TN, TX, UT, VA and WA. We are always evolving and excited to bring on new providers to our nationwide network.

Upon submitting your application, it will be handled and reviewed by our small yet dedicated team of Telemedicine Success leaders. Because we leverage asynchronous communication with you during the initial stages, applicants will find a significantly swifter interview process. We do this by alleviating inevitable scheduling conflicts that result in clinical recruiting delays that can take weeks if not months, whereas at Circle Medical, the application to decision process averages only 5 business days! If you’re ready to apply, please fill out an application here!

Book an appointment with a Circle Medical telehealth provider today!

If you’re a patient looking for flexible and convenient online primary care, Circle Medical can help you too! We offer same-day appointments, so you can get started with your healthcare as soon as possible. Schedule your appointment with Circle Medical today!

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