- Telehealth platforms at a glance
- Ten telehealth platforms to consider
- The pandemic grace period is over
- Video room, practice system or virtual care platform?
- Questions to ask before you switch
- Features patients notice
- When to move beyond a simple video room
- My plain advice on choosing a telehealth platform
- Frequently asked questions
The best telehealth platform for you depends on how you already work: a simple free video room suits a solo clinician, a practice management system with telehealth built in suits therapists, and a virtual care platform suits hospitals and health plans. Ten options follow in no particular order.
Video visits went from a stopgap to a normal part of care, and patients now expect the option. The hard part is choosing a platform that's easy for them and safe for you.
The ten telehealth platforms below are listed alphabetically and in no particular order, from free video rooms to enterprise virtual care. Every description comes from the vendor's own site, read this week. If you're also trying to fill the diary, my guide to digital marketing for small clinics covers that side.
Telehealth platforms at a glance
In the free plan column, Yes means the tool's own site names a free plan, a free version, a free app or an open source edition. Trial only means a time-limited trial. Not stated means the pages I read named neither, even where there's a button inviting you to try it.
| Tool | Type | Good for | Free plan |
|---|---|---|---|
| Amwell | Virtual care platform and clinical programmes | Health plans and large providers | Not stated |
| Doxy.me | Simple, free and secure telehealth platform | Solo clinicians and small clinics | Yes |
| Ensora Telehealth | Video visit add-on for TheraNest and Fusion | Therapy practices on TheraNest or Fusion | Trial only |
| eVisit | Virtual care platform for health systems | Tele-triage and virtual nursing | Not stated |
| Healthie | Cloud EHR with telehealth and webinars | Multi-provider practices | Trial only |
| Practice Better | EHR and practice management with telehealth | Group sessions and programmes | Trial only |
| SimplePractice | Practice management with HIPAA-compliant telehealth | Private practice therapists | Trial only |
| Spruce Health | Healthcare communication app with video visits | Calls, texts and video in one app | Trial only |
| VSee | HIPAA compliant telemedicine with a free version | Video plus carts and remote monitoring | Yes |
| Zoom for Healthcare | Telehealth platform for providers from Zoom | Providers already using Zoom | Not stated |
Ten telehealth platforms to consider
Amwell
Best for: Health plans and large providers that want a virtual care platform with programmes such as virtual primary care and behavioural health.
Doxy.me
Best for: Solo clinicians and small clinics that want a simple, secure telehealth room with a free version to start on.
Ensora Telehealth
Best for: Mental health, speech, physical and occupational therapists on TheraNest or Fusion who want telehealth added to the system they use.
eVisit
Best for: Hospitals and health systems that want tele-triage, virtual nursing and urgent care visits on one virtual care platform.
Healthie
Best for: Growing practices with several providers that want telehealth and webinars inside a cloud EHR with intake and charting.
Practice Better
Best for: Practitioners who run group sessions, programmes and courses alongside one-to-one telehealth, scheduling and charting.
SimplePractice
Best for: Therapists and other private practice clinicians who want telehealth built into the practice management system they already use.
Spruce Health
Best for: Primary care and mental health clinics that want secure messaging, phone, texting and video visits handled in one team app.
VSee
Best for: Clinics and health programmes that want video visits plus telemedicine carts, kits and remote patient monitoring from one supplier.
Zoom for Healthcare
Best for: Health systems and providers already on Zoom that want a telehealth platform from the same familiar video company.
The pandemic grace period is over
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) says its COVID-era notification of enforcement discretion for telehealth has expired, followed by a 90-calendar day transition period for covered health care providers to come into compliance with the HIPAA Rules.
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In plain terms, the relaxed rules that let clinicians use everyday video apps have gone. Choose a platform built for healthcare, check it'll sign the agreement HIPAA expects, and make sure sessions and records are protected.
Video room, practice system or virtual care platform?
Simple video rooms suit clinicians who already have scheduling and notes elsewhere. Practice management systems with telehealth inside suit therapists and small practices who want one login for calendar, notes and video. Virtual care platforms suit hospitals and health plans running triage, virtual nursing or large programmes.
Questions to ask before you switch
- Do patients need to download anything, or can they join from a browser?
- Will the vendor sign a business associate agreement?
- How does the waiting room work when you're running late?
- Can you share screens, documents or a whiteboard during a session?
- Does it connect to your calendar, notes and reminders?
- What happens if a patient's connection drops mid-session?
Features patients notice
- Browser joining. No app to install before the first visit.
- Waiting room messages. Patients know you're running late.
- Reminders. Fewer missed sessions.
- Secure messaging. Follow-up questions stay out of personal email.
When to move beyond a simple video room
If you're copying notes between three systems after every session, or patients keep getting lost between the booking email and the video link, it's time to look at a platform that joins those steps together.
Do you make telehealth software? Tool makers can ask to be considered for a featured place on this list.
My plain advice on choosing a telehealth platform
Test the patient side first. Ask a friend who isn't very techy to join a session from an old phone. If they get in without help, you're on the right track. If they need a call to talk them through it, so will your patients.
Then decide whether you want telehealth on its own or inside a bigger system. One login for scheduling, notes and video saves a surprising amount of admin each week. My piece on AI for physiotherapy clinics shows other ways small practices are saving time.
Frequently asked questions
What is a telehealth platform?
It's software for running health appointments remotely, usually by secure video, often with a waiting room, scheduling and messaging.
Is there a free telehealth platform?
Yes. Some platforms on this list name a free version or free plan. Check the table for each one.
Is Zoom HIPAA compliant?
Standard consumer video apps aren't designed for healthcare. Use a version or platform built for providers that will sign the agreement HIPAA expects.
Do patients need to download an app for telehealth?
Not always. Many platforms let patients join from a browser link, which is easier for older or less confident users.
Can therapists use telehealth across state lines?
That depends on licensing rules, not the software. Check the rules for your profession and the states involved.
What's the difference between telehealth and telemedicine?
Telehealth is the broader term for remote health services. Telemedicine usually means remote clinical care from a clinician.
