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What Must You Ask Yourself before Starting as a Telemedicine Physician Assistant?

Key Considerations Before Applying for a Role in Telehealth

You’re thinking of taking a position as a telemedicine physician assistant. You’ve weighed up how you feel in your current role, and you’re certain that it’s time to make the move to a job in telehealth. You like the idea of working from home and taking back control of your life.

On top of the lifestyle benefits, the Bureau of Labor Statistics puts the average salary of a telemedicine physician assistant at a substantial $112,260. It also forecasts jobs growth of 31% between 2018 and 2028.

So, a great salary, with good prospects, and one that promises a better work/life balance. Before you rush to apply for a physician assistant job in telehealth, though, there’s a question that you must answer.

Is a job in telehealth really for you? Here’s what you need to think about.

What Is Your Workload Likely to Be?

As a professional in telehealth, your work schedule is determined by several factors:

  • The first is when you make yourself available for work. The greater availability you offer, the more work you could obtain.
  • Second, where you can work. This depends upon your licensing. The more states you are licensed in, the easier it will be to have work allotted to you – and you could end up working times to suit you as well as improving your earnings.
  • Third, whether you work as a contractor or full-time employee in telehealth.
  • Fourth, the demands of the job. These may change with the seasons, or with health emergencies such as pandemics.

In short, while you have a lot of control over your work patterns, your workload is not entirely up to you. You’ll need to consider this and select jobs that align closest with how you want to work.

Do You Have the Space to Work Comfortably from Home?

Ideally you will have a dedicated room in your home. One where you can ‘lock yourself away’ and not be disturbed. The last thing you want is your kid to disturb a patient consultation. Your workspace must be safe and confidential, and with technology that is secure.

If you don’t have the space to work from home, you may decide to rent an office. However, this will add to your costs and negate much of the benefits of telehealth as a career choice.

Consider the Technology, the Support, and the Legislation

Technology is a real issue for many who wish to work from home in telemedicine roles. You’ll need a good internet connection, and be able to use the system the provider uses. You may need training.

Make sure, too, that the provider offers support for when you have difficult patient problems to diagnose or questions with which you need help.

Depending on the patients you see and the legislation in their state, you may also need to interact with other departments or refer your patients. You must be sensitive to these issues.

Of course, you’ll also need to consider legislation, the need to be licensed, and the possibility that you’ll need professional insurance – check that this is offered or provided by the provider with whom you are working.

Who Will Be Your Patients?

Finally, make sure you know who your patients will be. Will they be adults or children? Will they have acute or chronic health conditions?

Assessing health over the phone or by video link is very different to assessing a patient’s condition in person. You’ll need to be a good communicator and understand your limitations and the limitations of telehealth. You must be confident in what you do, and confident to refer patients if needed, or ask for advice if required.

Again, where you are practicing is an important consideration. Make sure that the telemedicine provider for whom you work provides clear guidance on what you can and cannot do – for example, what medication can be prescribed to patients in different states.

Is a Job as a Telemedicine Health Physician for You?

If you are dissatisfied in your current physician assistant job, then a move to telehealth could be the tonic you need. If you have somewhere comfortable and secure you can work, are adept with technology, and understand who your ideal patients are, then you have a good grasp on what type of role and provider would suit you best as a telemedicine physician assistant.

Look through the thousands of telehealth jobs we have available on our site today. Get a better idea about the responsibilities of roles in telehealth, and the types of provider you could be working for. And for that little extra help that you may need, contact Telehealth Gigs today. Thousands of candidates like you have secured their next gig in telehealth through online application – you could be the next.