On Pursuing Telemedicine Careers: How Can You Navigate Through a Flexible Medical Practice?
Healthcare professionals are used to working long shifts, but this culture is changing thanks to the rise of telehealth services. Entrepreneur revealed that 79% of physicians have been experiencing burnout due to the lack of advancement opportunities and long working hours. As a result, many healthcare professionals have left hospitals and clinics to transition into a virtual healthcare practice.
Telehealth services are transforming healthcare careers by providing practitioners with more control over their time. If you want to pursue a career in telemedicine, here’s what you need to know:
Telehealth Is Transforming the Careers of Medical Professionals
Now that social distancing restrictions have been lifted, in-office consultations are back. Despite this, however, the American Medical Association discovered that 73% of patients will continue to use telehealth services in the future. Knowing that patients are willing to get consultations online, 68% of medical professionals have said they’re motivated to increase their use of telehealth services in their private practices.
The demand for telehealth shows that patients are willing to get professional consultations on more flexible terms. Healthcare professionals therefore have more choices for their career paths, and can even opt to deliver quality services while exercising greater control over their working hours and location. This is transformative for medical professionals struggling with burnout, as a flexible telehealth practice means they can continue their work and set aside more time for themselves at the same time.
Tips for Managing a Flexible Medical Practice
Pick opportunities that align with your priorities
You don’t have to sacrifice your career priorities to transition to telehealth. Despite not having any face-to-face interactions with patients, you can still pursue your preferred specializations and work towards career growth.
Remote healthcare professionals can choose from several work opportunities because of the high demand for private practitioners in rural areas. For example, there are numerous job opportunities for remote nurse practitioners in Iowa due to the great need for more primary and urgent care professionals within the state. As a result, it’s easier for nurse practitioners to pursue specializations, like pediatrics and even geriatrics, while enjoying a more flexible schedule.
Consider your most productive hours for scheduling
You don’t have to follow strict hospital shifts if you have a telehealth practice. With more control over your schedule, you can provide better services to your patients by working during your peak productive hours.
Our article on The Importance of Effective Nurse Scheduling emphasizes that it’s important for nurses to communicate their own work preferences. Nurses cover critical cases and manage patients regularly, so it’s important to consider which hours and shifts work best for peak performance.
By using the right scheduling software, nurses and other healthcare professionals can make it easier to coordinate their preferred hours with their telehealth clients’ availability.
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Create a personal and professional routine
Having a proper schedule is useful because many professionals struggle with a healthy work-life balance in remote jobs.
To make the most out of your flexible medical practice, New Jersey-based counselor Nicole Glover recommends establishing a personal and professional routine. The counselor completes a morning routine with her family, then simulates a simple commute to her home office to establish boundaries with her time. By following this routine even when working remotely, you can maximize your free time for your personal needs and prepare yourself accordingly for your telehealth sessions.
Despite the return to normal, there’s still a high demand for telehealth services. By seizing the right opportunities and streamlining your schedule, you can provide quality healthcare services without being tied to long shifts and physical offices.
