As an agency, developer, or web designer working with healthcare clients, you might be asked to help set up the digital side of telehealth services, such as consent forms, scheduling, and secure video calls. This guide focuses on how agencies and digital teams can help healthcare providers set up telehealth services, not on receiving telehealth care as a patient.
If you work with healthcare clients, you may hear requests like:
- “Can we add telehealth to our website?”
- “We want to offer virtual follow-up visits.”
And that’s usually where agencies start researching how to set up telehealth correctly.
Telehealth isn’t just a video call. From a web and digital perspective, it’s a combination of HIPAA regulations, telehealth consent forms, follow-up surveys, electronic signatures, scheduling, and overall patients’ digital experience.
The good news? Setting up telehealth services doesn’t have to be complicated, and agencies don’t need to manage the medical or regulatory side to help clients get started. From an agency and web perspective, telehealth services are not just about video calls, but also about setting up secure digital access – especially HIPAA-Compliant forms that handle consent, intake, and patient information.
What Is Telehealth? (In Simple Terms)
Telehealth is the delivery of healthcare services remotely using digital tools such as video calls, secure online forms, and electronic consent. For agencies and developers, telehealth services focus on enabling digital access for patients – via the websites and marketing channels that you may already be managing for the healthcare provider.
For an official definition of telehealth and how it is used in healthcare, see this guidance from the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services (HHS) https://telehealth.hhs.gov
From a web and agency perspective, telehealth services generally cover:
- patient telehealth consent
- scheduling tools
- video platforms
Telehealth services can also include:
- virtual follow-up visit
- online consultations
- remote check-ins
- therapy sessions
- post-procedure reviews
- prescriptions
Patients connect with providers via video or phone rather than visiting the clinic or practitioner’s office in person.
Telehealth Services Are Growing, and Clinics Expect Help
Telehealth services grew rapidly over the past few years, and many practices continued to offer them even after reopening physical locations after Covid.
Why?
- Patients save time on the commute
- Providers save time on follow-ups
- Not every visit requires a physical exam
As a result, agencies can offer to help clinics set up telehealth services digitally, including:
- Adding telehealth as an option
- collecting the right information online
- making the process user-friendly for patients
The compliance side – when telehealth is allowed, licensing, state rules – stays with the provider.
Your role is to enable the digital workflow and add information to the clinic’s website.
What an Agency Actually Needs to Set Up Telehealth. The Web Part.
From a technical standpoint, telehealth is surprisingly lightweight.
Basic Technical Requirements
At a minimum, every telehealth visit requires:
- a computer or a laptop
- an internet connection
- a camera and a microphone
Most providers and patients already have these.
Where agencies come in is everything around the visit and digital communication.
What’s Required for Almost Every Telehealth Service
Regardless of specialty or state, these elements are almost always part of a telehealth visit.
Telehealth Consent Form
Patients must agree to receive care virtually.
This is usually handled through a telehealth consent form, though it can sometimes be combined with a patient intake form.
From a web perspective, a telehealth consent form should be:
- mobile-friendly
- styled with the practice’s brand
- easy to sign electronically
- securely stored
- HIPAA Compliant
This is often the first step when setting up telehealth services for a client.
Telehealth Electronic Signature
Telehealth consent typically requires acknowledgment.
Electronic signatures simplify this step and reduce friction for patients.
Optional E-Payment
Depending on the practice:
- e-payment may be collected before or after the visit
- Stripe or Square are often used as part of the process
Booking or Scheduling Tool
This doesn’t have to be complex.
Many practices use:
- Outlook calendar
- Calendly
- Appointment platforms
The key is clarity for the patient and the HIPAA Plan for the provider
Video Platform
Telehealth does not require a “special” video tool, but the tool must be HIPAA Compliant.
Most popular platforms offer HIPAA plans and provide a BAA.
Providers commonly use:
- Zoom
- Microsoft Teams
- Doxy.me
From an agency standpoint, simpler is better.
What Is Not Always Required to Start Telehealth Services
This is where many agencies overthink things.
A Full Website
A website is helpful, but not mandatory.
Some providers start telehealth with:
- a booking link
- a consent form
- a video link
You can support telehealth even while a full-site rollout is underway.
A Closed Telehealth System
All-in-one telehealth platforms exist, but they aren’t always necessary.
For providers who:
- still see patients in person
- offer telehealth occasionally
- are testing virtual visits
Starting small is often better than committing to a large system.
A Cloud EMR
While modern EMRs are cloud-based, some practices still use legacy systems.
If telehealth is occasional, it’s acceptable to:
- collect consent and intake online
- store submissions securely
- integrate later if telehealth grows
As telehealth becomes routine, switching to a cloud EMR usually makes sense.
What This Means for Agencies and Web Designers
Telehealth services don’t require you to become a healthcare compliance expert.
Your value lies in:
- setting up clean, styled, mobile-friendly forms
- connecting tools simply
- keeping the patient experience easy
- integrating with any existing systems your clients may have
The most common telehealth requests agencies help with are:
- Adding a web page with telehealth services description
- Adding a styled telehealth consent form
- Making it mobile-friendly
Why Telehealth Consent Forms Matter More Than You Think
When agencies help set up telehealth services, the consent form is often the first digital interaction a patient has with a provider.
If the form is:
- Long
- Confusing
- Not mobile-friendly
Patients hesitate before the visit even starts.
A good telehealth consent form should be:
- Short
- Clear
- Mobile-friendly
- Securely stored
From an agency standpoint, this is one improvement you can make quickly.
Helping Clients Start Telehealth Without Breaking the Bank
Telehealth services don’t need to launch with all the bells and whistles.
Many providers start with:
- one telehealth consent form
- electronic signature
- scheduling
- one video tool
Then expand as demand grows.
As an agency, helping clients start small and with full HIPAA Compliance builds trust.
Where Agencies Fit Best in Telehealth Projects
You’re not diagnosing patients.
You’re not deciding when telehealth is allowed.
You are:
- helping build a styled online telehealth form
- Integrating e-signature and e-payments (Stripe, Square, and other popular e-payment systems)
- promoting telehealth visits via a website, link, or social media
Helping a Client Add Telehealth Services? Start Here
If a client asks about telehealth services, the simplest starting point is often:
- an online telehealth consent form with an electronic signature that works on any device
Once that’s in place, everything else becomes easier to add. Learn more about Best DIY Tools to Start Yours Telehealth Visits
Telehealth Services – FAQs for Agencies and Developers
Telehealth services include virtual healthcare visits delivered through video calls, phone calls, or secure online tools. These services are commonly used for follow-ups, therapy sessions, and consultations that don’t require a physical exam.
Still have questions? Contact us