5 Ways to Effectively Include Caregivers in Telemedicine Visits
Telemedicine visits work best when caregivers are actively involved, yet many healthcare providers struggle to include them effectively in virtual appointments. This article draws on insights from experts in the field to outline practical strategies for engaging caregivers during remote consultations. From pre-visit conversations to shared education modules, these approaches help ensure that family members and spouses become valuable partners in patient care.
Confirm Willingness and Encourage Active Participation
This has become an important part of patient centered care, especially for individuals who need additional support at home. As a physician, I begin by confirming the patient's willingness to include their caregiver or family member in the conversation. I will often ask for them to be present in advance, since caregivers provide valuable details about t daily challenges, medication adherence and changes that may not be visible (or that the patient may not be aware of) during a short virtual appointment.
Once the visit starts, I make sure communication is clear, collaborative, and focused on shared goals. I encourage caregivers to take notes, ask questions and participate actively in problem solving. After outlining the treatment plan, I assign simple follow up tasks that caregivers can support such as monitoring symptoms or organizing medication schedules. This approach strengthens teamwork, reduces stress for the patient, and builds a supportive environment that continues beyond the virtual appointment.
Use Technology to Share Education Modules
I've been using Healthie for over 5 years, and one of its greatest strengths is how easily it allows caregivers or family members to join telemedicine visits, even from different locations. This has been a game changer in my functional medicine practice, especially when working with patients reversing Type 2 diabetes. Family support is often the missing ingredient in long-term compliance, and Healthie lets me include them in both live consults and shared education modules. What truly sets me apart is being able to offer over 90 on-demand trainings through the portal, something that simply wasn't possible in a traditional brick-and-mortar setting.
Conduct Brief Pre Visit Conversations with Caregivers
Incorporating caregivers or family members into telemedicine visits has been essential for improving communication and continuity of care. As a healthcare professional and physician, I make sure caregivers are invited to participate when the patient feels comfortable with their involvement. Their insights about daily routines, symptoms and changes in behavior provide important context that strengthens clinical decision making. One very effective approach is having a short pre visit conversation where caregivers can share updates and concerns. This allows me to fully understand what has been happening at home before the main discussion begins.
During the visit, I focus on clear communication through simple language and visual aids to ensure everyone understands the treatment plan. I encourage caregivers to take notes and ask questions, and I assign specific responsibilities such as medication reminders or monitoring certain symptoms. This shared role helps improve treatment adherence and empowers caregivers as active partners in care. Telemedicine makes it easier for families to join from wherever they are, strengthening support around the patient and enhancing overall health outcomes.
Include Relatives from the Beginning of Sessions
The integration of caregivers or relatives into the Telemedicine visits have been particularly relevant in providing holistic care especially to patients with chronic diseases or those who might require extra encouragement in reading and adhering to treatment regimes. Admittedly, one of the ways we have managed to do this is by letting caregivers participate in the video call right at the beginning so that they are part of the conversation and are not the spectators.
We take the time to build effective communication early on, that is, informing the patient and the caregiver on what part they will play in the session, be it giving medical history, updating the patient of his or her progress, or assisting in making decisions. By so doing, we do not only engage the caregiver in the care plan but also equip them with the information they require to help the patient even when the telemedicine visit is not underway.
Also, we have discovered that the development of joint digital documents e.g. care plan or medication schedule has assisted care givers to remain on track with the treatment objectives. This strategy has enhanced compliance to the care plan and increased a sense of collaborative partnering which has enabled patients to feel more empowered and involved in their own health. It is a basic but effective methodology of keeping everyone at the same page especially on remote cases or intricate cases of care.
Add Spouses to Calls for Better Understanding
This is really more of a job for a couple's counselor, but there have definitely been moments in my practice where I need to include a patient's spouse on the video call simply to help them better understand what their loved one is going through and how they can help. I'm sorry to say that many people will listen to a doctor over their own wives, but if that's what helps my patients, that's what I'm going to do.
