Happiness — or lack thereof — affects the work we do, and has an effect on those around us. When you're generally happy about the work you do, you experience less burnout. You have "more to give" because your own needs are met — professionally and personally.

Online doctors are not immune to this condition. The online landscape has changed a lot of what we do and how we do it. The convenience of online doctor visits benefits both patients and doctors.

Like their patients, online doctors appreciate the convenience of being able to meet online. It allows them to minimize the rush and stress doctors may face in an in-person office or clinic.

In this article, we'll explore how virtual healthcare has made doctors happy with their work. We'll look at how this directly impacts online doctor visits.

How an online doctor visit generates happy doctors

Physicians like to work from home too. That is true as long as the virtual technology they work with is a human-friendly, easy-to-use, and HIPAA-compliant platform. The Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) guides medical professionals on how to maintain protected health information (PHI).

Inefficient technology may create barriers for doctors providing virtual care part-time. HealthTap has the technology doctors need to work comfortably and efficiently. Learn more about how HealthTap works!

When an online doctor delivers virtual care as our HealthTap Medical Group does, they get to enjoy many perks like:

• Flexible schedules with more time for family and leisure.

• Not having to pay to maintain an outside office.

• Avoiding commute time or costs.

• Few unexpected or add-on appointment bookings.

• Using human-friendly technology to stay better connected with patients — during and after the visit.

• Feeling good about delivering more accessible care to those who experience barriers to care.

Ultimately, HealthTap physicians are able to maintain a good work-life balance. They may feel more fulfilled about the work they do. As a result, they have the opportunity to give more focused care to their patients.

How do doctors feel about telehealth?

Personal experiences matter most. But it's also important to look at what the data says.

The American Medical Association surveyed both patients and physicians about virtual healthcare. They found 68 percent of physicians felt enthusiastic about increasing virtual care. Furthermore, most said they would like to see more physicians deliver virtual care for:

• Chronic disease management (73 percent).

• Care coordination among doctors and other medical professionals from different specialties (64 percent).

• Preventive care (53 percent) with a primary care doctor.

Nearly half (48 percent) also believe virtual health works well for follow-up visits after an emergency or hospital visit. Studies have shown that virtual care can increase follow-up rates.

How do patients benefit from happy doctors?

To understand how patients benefit, take a look behind the scenes at a traditional in-person office visit. In traditional in-person doctor’s offices, physicians have busy schedules with back-to-back patients. This may mean they have less quality time to spend with patients.

As a result, a doctor may have to see 20 patients in an 8-hour day. This doesn't even include filling out charts after the visit. All of this often leads to physician burnout.

Now, let's look at how HealthTap has changed this scenario for both patients and doctors with the online doctor visit. We've created a modern, human-friendly platform. It makes visits more efficient and less rushed for both the online doctor and the patient.

With this breathing room, the online doctor likely has more energy to take time with you when you need it. This may be especially helpful for chronic care management or preventive care discussions.

HealthTap online doctors come into their appointments ready to listen and deliver patient-focused, quality care.

Available data support patients' higher satisfaction rates

It's no surprise the American Medical Association (AMA) survey also found that four out of five patients:

• Felt very satisfied with virtual care.

• Said their online doctor was thorough.

• Said their doctor communicated well during their online visit.

• Felt confident their private information was protected.

Furthermore, seventy-three percent say they plan to continue using virtual health. To be clear, the AMA survey surveyed patients receiving virtual care — not just HealthTap patients. However, thanks to the happy doctors at HealthTap, our members are experiencing similar results.

Is your doctor a happy doctor? We encourage you to experience the difference a happy doctor makes with an online doctor visit as a HealthTap member. Schedule your appointment today.