Below is a concise, practical set of telehealth consultation standards you can use as a policy/checklist for health services, clinicians and organisations. It covers clinical, technical, legal/consent, privacy, workflow, safety and quality assurance. You can adapt it to local laws, professional college guidance and organisational policy.

Core principles (apply to every telehealth consultation)

• Patient-centred: preserve quality of care, dignity, confidentiality and equity.
• Clinical appropriateness: use telehealth only when it is clinically safe and appropriate.
• Informed consent: obtain documented, informed consent specific to telehealth.
• Safety-first: plan for emergencies and escalation to in‑person care.
• Privacy & security: meet legal/regulatory obligations and use secure technology.
• Documentation & continuity: record the encounter the same as an in‑person visit.
• Accessibility: accommodate sensory, language, cultural and cognitive needs.
• Clinician competence: ensure clinicians are trained in telehealth clinical and technical skills.

Pre‑consultation requirements

• Eligibility and triage
  • Screen requests for suitability (clinical urgency, need for physical exam, cognitive capacity, presence of interpreter).
  • If unsuitable (e.g., unstable vital signs, need for immediate physical exam), arrange in‑person assessment or emergency care.
• Patient identity and verification
  • Verify patient identity (full name, date of birth) and confirm who is present.
• Technology check
  • Confirm patient has required device, internet access and knows how to use the platform.
  • Provide simple written/phone guidance before the appointment.
• Consent and information
  • Provide information on what telehealth involves, limits (e.g., inability to perform some physical exams), privacy risks and alternatives.
  • Obtain and document explicit telehealth consent (verbal on audio/video is acceptable if recorded in the notes). Use a brief consent script (sample below).
• Privacy & environment
  • Ask patient to be in a private, well‑lit space and to use headphones if possible.
  • Clinician should be in a private location, use professional background, and ensure no unauthorized observers.

During the consultation

• Start: identification & consent reconfirmation
  • Re‑identify patient, confirm location (reason: jurisdiction and emergency response), who is present, and reconfirm consent to proceed.
• Communication & clinical standards
  • Use clear introductions, explain limitations, use teach‑back for understanding, slow speech for interpretation.
  • Take a full history and, where possible, guide self‑examination or caregiver‑assisted exam (visual inspection, guided palpation, range of motion demonstrations).
  • Decide and document whether remote findings are adequate to make a clinical decision or whether in‑person assessment is required.
• Safety & escalation
  • Ask about red flag symptoms and establish a plan if patient deteriorates.
  • If immediate danger or emergency identified, direct patient to call emergency services; note the patient’s physical location and, with permission, contact local emergency responders.
• Prescribing & investigations
  • Follow jurisdictional rules for prescribing remotely (e.g., controlled substances).
  • Provide clear instructions for tests, how/where to get them, urgency and follow‑up.
• Privacy during session
  • Minimise recording unless explicitly consented to; if recording, document consent and storage arrangements.

Documentation standards (same standard as in‑person)

• Record date/time, modality (video/phone), participants present, patient location, consent, clinical history, assessment, remote exam findings, clinical reasoning, differential diagnosis, management plan, prescriptions, tests ordered, follow‑up arrangements, safety net advice and time spent.
• Note any limitations of the remote assessment and the reason for telehealth (patient preference, accessibility, infection control, etc.).
• Keep copies of any messages, images or files shared during the encounter and store them in the medical record.

Technology, privacy and security

• Use platforms that meet local privacy laws and health data security standards (end‑to‑end encryption where possible).
• Implement user authentication for clinicians and reasonable authentication for patients.
• Minimise recording and store recorded sessions or shared media only with clear consent and secure storage.
• Data retention, access logs and audit trails must follow organisational policy and legal/regulatory requirements.
• Regularly patch/update software and have IT support pathways for clinicians and patients.

Clinical quality and workforce

• Clinician credentialing
  • Verify clinician licensure/registration for the patient’s jurisdiction and ensure professional indemnity covers telehealth.
• Training and competence
  • Provide training on telehealth etiquette, clinical adaptation of physical exam, documentation, privacy and technical troubleshooting.
• Clinical governance
  • Implement quality assurance: peer review, case audits, incident reporting, patient feedback and outcome monitoring.
• Workload & scheduling
  • Allow sufficient time for telehealth visits for technical setup and for potentially slower communication needs.

Accessibility, equity and cultural safety

• Provide interpreter access for non‑English speakers (video or phone) and support for hearing/vision impairment.
• Offer alternative modes (phone, text‑based, in‑person) when video is not accessible.
• Attend to cultural safety, consent practices, and involvement of family/caregivers per patient preference.

Safety net and follow‑up

• Give clear, written after‑visit instructions including: clinical summary, red flags, what to do if condition worsens, follow‑up appointment details and contact details.
• If tests are ordered, define who will communicate results and timeframes.
• Schedule in‑person follow‑up when indicated (routine for certain conditions or if remote limitations).

Legal, regulatory and prescribing considerations

• Follow local laws on telehealth practice, cross‑jurisdiction care, privacy and prescribing. (Organisations should maintain a legal/regulatory checklist specific to their jurisdiction.)
• Keep records of consent and jurisdictional location of patient at time of consultation (affects regulation and mandatory reporting).

Operational checklist (quick)

• Before: identity verified, consent recorded, interpreter arranged, tech check done, patient location confirmed.
• During: patient identity reconfirmed, privacy confirmed, history and remote exam completed, red flags checked, management plan agreed, safety net given.
• After: documentation completed, result communication plan, prescriptions issued securely, follow‑up arranged, record stored securely.

Sample brief telehealth consent script (clinician can adapt)

• “Hello, I’m Dr/Ms/Mr X. Can you confirm your full name and date of birth? I can see/hear you clearly. This visit is by video/phone. Telehealth has some limits — I may not be able to do a full physical exam. There are small privacy risks with technology. Do you agree to continue by telehealth today? Do you agree to me documenting this visit in your medical record?”

Documentation template (fields to include)

• Date/time; modality (video/phone); patient name, DOB, verified location; attendees (patient, carers, interpreter); consent (yes/no; type); presenting problem; history; medications/allergies; remote exam findings; assessment and clinical reasoning; management (treatment, prescriptions, referrals, tests); safety‑net advice; follow‑up plan; clinician name and signature.

Quality indicators and KPIs (suggested)

• Percentage of telehealth visits with documented consent.
• Rate of visits escalated to in‑person care within 7 days.
• Patient satisfaction and access metrics (e.g., wait times, missed appointment rate).
• Clinician training completion rate.
• Security incidents related to telehealth.

Templates and integration

• Embed consent and documentation fields into the electronic medical record (EMR).
• Use appointment reminders with tech-check instructions and simple troubleshooting tips.

Where to adapt and when to check laws

• Telehealth rules, prescribing restrictions and reimbursement vary by country and region and change over time — ensure your policy is reviewed regularly and aligned with local regulator/professional college guidance.

If you’d like, I can:

• produce a one‑page printable telehealth policy for clinicians,
• create a patient-facing telehealth info sheet and pre‑visit checklist, or
• build a fillable EMR note template (sample fields) you can copy into your system.

Which of those would you like me to produce now?