For Success in the Best of Telehealth, Assess
You interviewed for telehealth jobs, and you’ve been offered the position. The interviewer believes you’re the right person, but how can you be sure this job is the right one for you?
According to a survey by GoBankingRates, 23.5% of Americans regret changing jobs. The consequences of accepting the wrong job include:
- Poor performance
- An unhappy work/life balance
- Feeling uncomfortable within your new team or organization
- Your mental wellbeing taking a hit
- Leaving on bad terms
- A tarnished resume with a red-flag employment history
Being offered a job in telehealth can be an exciting moment, and you may want to grab the opportunity with both hands. But it pays to take caution and assess your telehealth job offer before you sign on the dotted line.
Here, we look at what you should examine to ensure an enjoyable career in telehealth.
Assess the Company
You may have carried out a little investigating on the company before you applied, to get a feel of their attitude towards their staff and their patients.
Now it’s time to dig a little deeper, and get some clarity on the details that will affect your working day:
- How are problems or issues communicated between healthcare professionals?
- What do current employees or contractors feel about working for this provider?
- How are teams and individuals supported, both individually and collaboratively?
- If staff turnover is high, why?
Asking such questions may sound daunting. The answers may highlight issues that cause you concern, or they can provide reassurance that you’re joining a good team.
Assess the Role
Telehealth jobs can vary in duties and workloads from one provider to another. Be sure that both you and the employer agree what the role requires. Be clear about:
- The work hours
- The expected outcomes (number of consultations)
- Patient population
- Staffing support
- Area coverage
- Emergency procedures
- Use of electronic health record (EHR) systems
Assess the Extras
The extras are crucial. Employers should be clear on what they’re offering. It’s your responsibility to check. Make sure you’re clear on:
- Autonomy – do you get to choose how to schedule your patients, or is it fixed?
- Will you be expected to be on call, and if so, how often/when?
- Payment – is it per consult, or per hour, and how will patient volumes affect this? Some providers only pay when you reach a certain number of patients.
- Requirements – Ensure you know details on licensure and credential fees.
- Employment status – The answer will affect your taxation, as well as perks and entitlements.
Assess the Technology
Your home will be your office. Ensure you have clarity on the technology you’ll be expected to use:
- Which video platform will you be using, and is it compatible with the equipment you have?
- Will you be provided with equipment?
- What technical support will you have?
- Which EHR (electronic health record) system will you use? If you’re not familiar with it, is training provided?
- Which communication systems are used between professionals?
Understanding the tech will ensure you hit the ground running when you start your new job.
Stay on the Right Path for Your Career in Telehealth
You made the right choice in choosing a career in telehealth; that part we’re clear on. Afterall, it’s a platform for you to do the job you love, with security as well as the huge benefits of a better work/life balance.
But before you sign with an employer, make sure you:
- Assess the company
- Assess the role
- Assess the details that become perks or problems
- Assess the tools you will be expected to use
Only when you examine the details can you confidently begin your new career in telehealth. You’ll avoid the disappointment of starting a job to which you’re not fully suited. Stay tuned to the Telehealth Gigs Blog for all the tips and info you need to succeed in telehealth.
(Before you go, read how to find the best telehealth jobs in 2021.)
For the best jobs in telehealth, contact TeleHealth Gigs.
