Telehealth has rapidly evolved, especially in recent years, as a critical component of modern healthcare. Yet, the success of telehealth heavily relies on the efficiency of its onboarding process and the assurance of patient safety. Effective patient verification, often overlooked, is proving to be not just a cost center but a potential revenue generator within this burgeoning industry. According to recent studies, a staggering 68%[1] of patients expressed a higher inclination towards using telehealth services if the onboarding process was made more accessible and user-friendly. Moreover, improving the digital patient experience, including streamlining the onboarding procedure, has directly led to a remarkable 30% revenue growth[2] for many healthcare providers venturing into telehealth services. Amidst this immense growth, the pivotal question arises: what challenges threaten telehealth security?
Critical Hurdles in Telehealth Security
The HFPP (The Healthcare Fraud Prevention Partnership) has warned, “Telehealth has the potential to increase access to care; however, it is also vulnerable to fraud, waste, and abuse schemes[3].” Within the fast-growing telehealth market, a critical obstacle remains: the assurance of patient identities and security. In the healthcare sector, identity theft is a pressing concern, contributing significantly to the broader landscape of identity theft cases across various industries. Studies show that as recent as 2022, the healthcare sector represents one in five of all security incidents that were discovered during the year[4], presenting dual concerns that are financial and patient safety related. And while federal laws often limit consumer liability for fraudulent credit card charges to $50, no similar safeguards exist for stolen medical identities. Yet studies show victims of medical ID theft who faced financial losses spent an average of $13,500 to resolve the issue[5], amounting to an estimated $30 billion across the healthcare industry. Beyond the financial burden, the implications are deeply concerning for patient welfare. Shockingly, about 20% of identity theft victims experience incorrect diagnosis or treatment due to discrepancies within their compromised medical records[6]. These discrepancies often lead to potential delays in care provision or erroneous treatment methods, jeopardizing patient safety and well-being.
The Vital Role of IDV Solutions
Addressing the challenges within telehealth is imperative, and this is where Identity Verification (IDV) solutions play a pivotal role. These solutions offer a comprehensive approach to tackle the complexities of patient verification and security concerns inherent in the telehealth landscape. Notably, according to IDV provider customer feedback, IDV solutions streamline the onboarding process by significantly reducing verification time, sometimes by as much as 90%. This streamlined verification not only expedites the initial patient interaction but also fosters an efficient and expedient onboarding experience. Furthermore, the integration of robust IDV mechanisms has shown an impressive impact on customer conversions, driving an average increase of up to 30%. Beyond efficiency gains, this boost in conversions signifies greater trust and confidence instilled in patients towards telehealth platforms, underlining the significance of a secure and seamless onboarding system in fostering long-term patient-provider relationships within the digital healthcare space.
Tailored IDV Solutions for Enhanced Telehealth Practices
Tailored Identity Verification (IDV) solutions, specifically curated for the telehealth sector, strike a delicate balance between ensuring customer convenience and upholding regulatory compliance. These specialized tools are dedicated to streamlining onboarding procedures while prioritizing the integrity and security of patient data, essential in thwarting medical identity theft and preventing potential diagnostic or treatment errors. Addressing the unique challenges within telehealth, IDV solutions meticulously verify pharmacy and prescription processes to align with the intended patient, ensuring precision and accuracy. Moreover, these solutions authenticate patient identities during in-person care interactions, significantly reducing the risk of misdiagnosis or treatment discrepancies. Additionally, these tools facilitate seamless patient portal onboarding and account creation, elevating the overall accessibility and user-friendliness of telehealth services.
Ultimately, in tandem with the burgeoning growth of the telehealth sector, the industry must acknowledge the indispensable role of Identity Verification (IDV) solutions. These solutions serve as more than just facilitators of streamlined onboarding processes; they form the bedrock of a secure and trustworthy telehealth ecosystem. Beyond the initial efficiency gains, these solutions are safeguards that protect the integrity of patient data against potential breaches or misuse. By ensuring the accuracy and authenticity of patient identities, they pave the way for precise diagnoses, bolstering the quality of care provided through telehealth platforms. Moreover, the implementation of IDV solutions is a formidable barrier against potential identity theft, assuring patients a safe and reliable experience. With robust IDV mechanisms in place, the future of telehealth is poised not only to be more efficient but also fortified with advanced security measures, embodying a patient-centric approach that prioritizes trust, reliability, and uncompromising data integrity.
[1] “Telehealth: A Quarter-Trillion-Dollar Post-COVID-19 Reality?” McKinsey & Company, April 2021.
[2] “Healthcare and Life Sciences Predictions 2021: A Year of Recovery and transformation,” Deloie, 2021
[3] EXPLORING FRAUD, WASTE, AND ABUSE WITHIN TELEHEALTH –
https://www.cms.gov/files/document/hfpp-white-paper-exploring-fraud-waste-abuse-within-telehealth.pdf-0
[4] Data Breaches and Cyber Attacks in 2022: 480 Million Breached: Records https://www.itgovernance.co.uk/blog/data-breaches-and-cyber-attacks-in-2022-408-million-breached-records
[5] https://www.ponemon.org/local/upload/file/Fifth%20Annual%20Patient%20Privacy%20%20Data%20Security%20Report%20FINAL%201_IDE%20050315.pdf
[6] Medical Privacy: How to Keep Your Medical Information Safer – Https://www.pinnaclecare.com/highlights/blog/medical-privacy-safeguards/#:~:text=Approximately%2020%25%20of%20the%20victims,healthcare%20organizations%20and%20businesses%20working