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Remote Consultation Compliance

How do I verify a patient's identity remotely?

You must unequivocally verify who you are talking to. Use secure portals with two-factor authentication (2FA) or require the patient to show a valid government ID card to the camera at the beginning of the session. Document this verification in the records.

What documentation is required for a video visit?

Remote visits must be documented with the same rigor as in-person ones. You need to fill out the patient's medical record (Form IV-100/a), explicitly noting that the consultation was conducted remotely and detailing the limitations of the assessment.

Do I need specific consent for telemedicine?

Yes, standard consent forms are insufficient. You need a digital informed consent where the patient acknowledges the specific risks and limitations of remote diagnosis (e.g., inability to perform a physical exam). This protects you from future claims.

What if the connection fails during a critical moment?

Doctors must have a fallback protocol, such as immediately switching to a phone call. Terms of service should clearly state liability disclaimers for technical failures, but the doctor still has a duty of care to ensure the patient's safety isn't compromised.

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Remote Consultation Compliance focuses directly on the process of distance communication between doctor and patient. While general telemedicine compliance concerns IT systems and policies, this service addresses the "clinical encounter" in the virtual space. How should a video visit be conducted to be legal and safe? How to identify the patient through a screen? How to record the medical history? These issues are critical, as the risk of error and misunderstanding increases during remote consultations. This service ensures that every virtual visit meets medical and legal standards, protecting the doctor from liability and the patient from substandard service.

Specialists on Legal.ge offer detailed guidelines and audits for remote consultations:

  • Identification protocols: Developing mechanisms for the doctor to unequivocally verify who they are speaking to (verifying ID cards via video, etc.).
  • Informed consent (digital): Drafting specific texts where the patient acknowledges the limitations of remote consultation.
  • Documentation rules: Instructions for doctors on how to reflect the virtual visit in the medical record (Form IV-100/a) and what entries are mandatory.
  • Emergency management: Protocols for situations where a patient's condition worsens during a video call (e.g., calling an ambulance to the patient's address).
  • Ethical norms: Rules of conduct for doctors on camera, environmental conditions, and confidentiality protection during the visit.

In real life, cases often occur where a patient uses someone else's account or name for consultation, creating problems later when issuing prescriptions or claiming insurance reimbursement. It is also problematic when a doctor conducts a consultation from an unofficial environment (e.g., a cafe), violating patient confidentiality. Another risk is technical failure — if the connection drops at a critical moment, the doctor must know exactly how to act to avoid legal liability. Protocols created with a specialist's help minimize these risks.

In Georgia, rules for conducting consultations are defined by the "Law on Medical Practice" and Ministry of Health orders regarding medical record keeping. Instructions for using the E-Health portal also set requirements for patient identification. The Civil Code obliges the service provider to act "in good faith and with due care," which requires specific efforts in a remote setting.

Working with a specialist involves "scenario-based" training for doctors. The lawyer will help you create a checklist that the doctor goes through before every virtual visit. This includes checking audio-video quality, confirming patient identity, and obtaining consent. Such a systematic approach ensures high-quality and legally sound service.

Legal.ge allows you to find lawyers specializing in clinical compliance. Remote consultation is not just a conversation; it is a medical act requiring an appropriate legal framework. Our experts will help you create this framework to keep your doctors and patients protected.

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