Free telehealth platforms may seem like a viable option for practitioners seeking a cost-effective way to provide telehealth to their patients. Yet, when it comes to telehealth platforms, anything that’s “free” will lead to you bearing a sacrifice in some other respect – whether that’s related to features, connectivity, or overall virtual care quality.
That being said, key telehealth functionalities for a smooth patient-provider experience is within your reach with platforms like SecureVideo. But first, let’s dive into the issues you could be experiencing with a free telehealth platform:
The Most Common Drawbacks of Free Telehealth Platforms
1. Telehealth Connectivity Issues
Free telehealth platforms often struggle to deliver consistent connectivity, which is critical for real-time telehealth visits. These platforms heavily depend on a stable internet connection, but they typically lack video engine fallback systems to manage disruptions. When telehealth connectivity issues arise, sessions can drop unexpectedly, interrupting medical services and leaving both providers and patients frustrated.
This can be particularly challenging for those in remote areas, where an unreliable internet connection is already a common hurdle, making it even harder to access quality medical care. For these reasons, the best telehealth platform should prioritize seamless connectivity to improve patient outcomes.
2. Lack of Advanced Features
One of the most significant disadvantages of free telehealth platforms is their lack of advanced functionality. Essential tools such as EHR integration, which helps providers access and update patient health information, are often missing. Other top features, like file-sharing options to attach medical records or test results directly to patient charts, are also limited or unavailable.
This absence of functionality makes it harder to optimize workflows, negatively impacting the effectiveness of patient care during telehealth visits. Investing in a more comprehensive telemedicine platform can provide the tools necessary to deliver better medical services and primary care.
3. Poor Audio and Video Quality
For telehealth services to succeed, clear communication is vital. However, free telehealth platforms frequently suffer from poor audio and video quality, creating barriers between patients and healthcare providers. Lagging video or muffled sound can cause miscommunication, leading to diagnostic errors or inadequate medical care.
These quality issues are particularly problematic during critical telehealth visits, where even a slight misunderstanding can compromise overall patient care. For this reason, choosing a telehealth platform that ensures superior audio-visual performance will help to improve patient outcomes.
4. No Recording Capabilities
The inability to securely record sessions is another notable drawback of free telehealth platforms. Recording capabilities, whether for video, audio, or chat, are essential for healthcare providers who need to document appointments for compliance, training, or follow-up care.
Without this feature, it becomes difficult to maintain a reliable record of telehealth visits, which can lead to disputes or missed details in patient care. In specific sectors like behavioral healthcare, a lack of video or audio recording can lead to missed opportunities for training and improvement.
The advantages and disadvantages of free platforms should be weighed carefully, as recording features are critical for improving overall service and administrative efficiency.
5. Limited Group Session Capabilities
Free telehealth platforms often impose restrictions on the number of participants in a session, posing challenges for group-based healthcare. Solutions like family counseling, mental health group therapy, or collaborative primary care meetings necessitate flexible group options.
With participant caps, free platforms fail to facilitate these forms of care effectively. Selecting a telemedicine platform that supports large group sessions can enhance the scope of telehealth services and ensure inclusivity in patient care practices.
6. Lack of Support
Reliable support systems are indispensable for delivering quality telehealth services, but free telehealth platforms often fall short in this area. Features like 24/7 customer support, live chat, or even phone support are frequently absent, leaving both patients and providers stuck when issues with the platform arise.
Without proper support, telehealth visits can be delayed or canceled altogether, thereby diminishing the benefits of remote medical services. To provide uninterrupted patient care and address troubleshooting quickly, the best telehealth platforms usually boast extensive support options.
7. Steep Learning Curve
An unintuitive user interface is another significant drawback of many free telehealth platforms. Both healthcare providers and patients can struggle to adapt to poorly designed mobile apps or web interfaces.
This steep learning curve wastes valuable time during appointments and can result in a frustrating overall experience. By investing in a more user-friendly telemedicine platform, practices can save time, improve patient outcomes, and reduce the stress associated with virtual care.
Why SecureVideo Out-Performs Free Telehealth Platforms
The disadvantages of free telehealth platforms make it difficult for providers to deliver quality telemedicine services. However, telehealth solution providers like SecureVideo addresses the shortcomings of free options through a number of advanced features – all of which are designed for an all-encompassing virtual healthcare experience:
Group Sessions: SecureVideo offers group sessions for up to 300 participants, making it ideal for virtual group therapy or large primary care meetings.
Seamless Connectivity: With video-engine fallback capabilities, SecureVideo can automatically switch video engines for uninterrupted connectivity during a session.
EHR Integration: SecureVideo offers full EHR integration, enabling providers to access and update patient health information seamlessly during telehealth visits, in addition to attaching important files, documents, and recordings.
High Quality Audio and Video: Our platform is revered for its high video and audio quality, offering video engines like Zoom, One-Click, or hybrid video engines to ensure a seamless experience start-to-finish.
Streamlined Patient Intake: With our virtual waiting room feature, providers can streamline the patient intake process by having them fill out their intake documents
Masked Calling: Protect your privacy with our optional masked calling feature, which allows providers to call patients without revealing their personal phone numbers.
Intuitive Features: The SecureVideo platform’s interface supports easy navigation, from session initiation, document and screen sharing, secure message chat, and more for efficient telehealth sessions.
Various Support Options: We offer exceptional support via multiple avenues – including phone, email, and secure chat – ensuring greater accessibility to help whenever it’s needed.
Choose SecureVideo for Seamless Virtual Care
The disadvantages of free telehealth platforms make it clear that while they may offer initial cost savings, the long-term trade-offs in reliability, functionality, and quality can impact remote healthcare services significantly. Fortunately, SecureVideo provides advanced telehealth tools at a worthwhile price point that will make telehealth a seamless, efficient and reliable experience.
If you’re ready to move beyond the pitfalls of free options and invest in a reliable, feature-rich telehealth platform, SecureVideo is here to support you. Sign up for a free telehealth trial and explore everything our solutions have to offer.