BLOG
5 Ways to Achieve
Good “Website Manner”
- Blog
- »
- 5 Ways to Achieve Good “Website Manner”
August 4, 2021
Bedside manner establishes the caring connection between the patient and provider. As telehealth and digital solutions take hold, and providers adopt these virtual strategies in their practice, the necessity for effective “website manner” grows. How can you appear engaged and caring if the patient is not in the room with you?
Introduce yourself to the patient, describe your role and the purpose of the appointment, and outline how the visit will be conducted. Patients, especially those unfamiliar with telemedicine, will appreciate you going the extra step to orient them.
This may sound counterintuitive with virtual visits, but it is possible to achieve! If your camera is placed away from the monitor, you may be looking at your screen and at your patient, but they feel like you are looking in a different direction—thus creating an unintended disconnect.
Simulate direct eye contact by moving your camera closer to the patient image and attempt to look into the camera while speaking.
While handshakes are not possible with online visits, even a wave or a handshake-like gesture can encourage the same closeness and compassion that physical contact does.
Use head nods and facial expressions to reassure your patient that you can hear and understand them.
If you are typing notes during the appointment or in a room with a loud machine, consider what sounds could be picked up by the computer audio. Sounds are magnified by microphones and can be distracting for the patient.
Leaving your patient with just a blank screen that says, “Your session has ended.” can be jarring and abrupt. Instead, conclude visits with a recap of the appointment, covering what the patient can expect after the session has ended.
Implementing these recommendations and educating your organization on good “website manner” are important to the quality of your care services and to patient satisfaction and comfort.
Contact ACHC for more resources and education on telehealth, as well as information on our Distinction and Certification in Telehealth.
For more discussion on how providers can effectively adopt digital strategies in their practice, listen to Episode 2 “Remember to Breathe” from ACHC’s podcast Beyond the Standard.
Accreditation Commission for Health Care, Inc.