The Federation of State Medical Boards (FSMB) have approved updated guidelines to help ensure the safety and quality of medicine when it is practiced using telemedicine technology. The “Model Policy on the Appropriate Use of Telemedicine Technologies in the Practice of Medicine” adopted by FSMB provides a basic roadmap that state boards can use to ensure that patients are protected from harm.
The policy at a glance states:
- Standards of care that protect patients during in-person medical interactions apply equally to medical care delivered electronically
- Providers using telemedicine should establish a credible patient-physician relationship and ensure that their patients are properly evaluated and treated
- Providers should adhere to well established principles guiding privacy and security of records, informed consent, safe prescribing, and other key areas of medical practice
As FSMB President and CEO Humayun J. Chaudhry, DO, MACP said, “Telemedicine offers wonderful tools to help expand treatment options for patients, lowers costs, and helps to support preventive care efforts. However, as telemedicine has grown so too has the need for clear common-sense guidelines to help healthcare providers transition to this exciting new environment in a safe way.”
Go to www.fsmb.org/pdf/FSMB_Telemedicine_Policy.pdf to view the new policy or contact Drew Carlson at dcarlson@fsmb.org or call 917-868-4043.