Practice tip of the week: Webside Manner 101

With all the useful information available on Physicians Practice, it is easy to become overwhelmed.

With this in mind, the tip of the week is a chance to reflect on some of the wisdom found all across the site. In a December 2021 article on “webside manner”, Mark Allara, MD, writes the following:

For those unaccustomed to telehealth visits, establishing your virtual bedside manner or “webside manner” can be a challenging. Here are my top five telehealth tips to cultivating a pleasing webside manner, improving patient satisfaction and increasing loyalty:

1. Start with an orientation

Remember that most patients are unfamiliar with telehealth and could benefit from some upfront explanation, both operationally and financially. Take a few minutes to explain the technology, such as mute control, and ask if they can see and hear well.

2. Set the scene

Consider the visual aspects needed for a successful appointment and pleasing webside manner. For example, your office should be well-lit and organized to indicate professionalism.

3. Look them in the “eyes”

Eye contact is crucial, but tricky to achieve online. Adjust your web camera so the patient’s video window is positioned to give the appearance of a face-to-face conversation while enabling you to also review their chart on your screen.

Click here to read the rest of the article and be sure to check back next week for another Tip of the Week!