Telemedicine Jobs 101: What to Know Before You Apply

Whether you are a clinician considering a new career in telemedicine or an experienced virtual care provider ready to expand your patient reach, the world of telemedicine presents a myriad of possibilities and unique benefits. 

And as more and more clinical care is shifting towards virtual delivery, telemedicine jobs are no longer exclusively synchronous, video-based care visits. The type, structure and requirements for telemedicine jobs tend to vary and due to the evolving industry, searching and applying for telehealth jobs can be overwhelming for first time digital practitioners.  

Understanding what to expect and how to evaluate job postings can make the search more manageable and help you find your ideal telemedicine role. This mini guide will explore the different types of telemedicine visits, pay structures, licensing requirements and more - helping you kickstart your virtual healthcare career. 

Types of telehealth visits

Before diving right into the job search, determining what style of telehealth aligns with your availability and focus areas will help guide your search. As mentioned above, virtual care delivery has continued to evolve, expanding into different types of telemedicine delivery methods. The most common forms of delivery include live video/synchronous visits, asynchronous/store-and-forward and Remote Patient Monitoring (RPM).

Live video/synchronous: Real-time video conferencing between healthcare providers and patients for initial clinical assessments, diagnosis and treatment planning. This is one of the most common telehealth delivery methods.

Asynchronous/store-and-forward: Asynchronous telehealth involves patients submitting information, images or data to healthcare providers to review and respond to later. This method is typically used for specialist consultations, second opinions and follow-up care. However, it’s gaining popularity due to its low cost and greater patient accessibility.

Remote Patient Monitoring: RPM involves the continuous monitoring of patients' vital signs, chronic conditions and overall health. The data collected is then transmitted to healthcare providers for ongoing assessment and intervention when necessary. RPMs are typically lumped under the asynchronous umbrella because face-to-face interactions rarely occur when collecting the data through these devices.

Your telemedicine job could include one or more of the delivery methods listed above. Most job listings will explicitly state the required delivery method, so understanding each type will help you find your best fit.

Full-time, part-time or contract

After determining the type of telehealth visits you’re most interested in, knowing whether you want to be a full-time telemedicine clinician, part-time or on a contract basis will help narrow the job search as well. 

Many clinicians opt to provide virtual care in addition to working in a traditional brick and mortar setting. Telehealth can be a great way to make use of your time in between shifts and gain some extra pay. 

Telemedicine’s inherent flexibility allows clinicians to work from anywhere, at any time. If this is something that interests you, looking for a part-time telemedicine position might be the right fit. 

For clinicians who are brand new to the telehealth world or aren’t ready to fully commit to virtual care, a contract position or locum tenens might be the best route. It allows you to test the waters and become acquainted with providing virtual care before committing to the long haul. Contact positions also enable clinicians to work for multiple organizations versus just one. This can provide some variety in your day-to-day work life. 

Otherwise, for those ready to take the leap to full-time virtual care, there are a variety of benefits for being a full-time telemedicine clinician such as:

• No commute to work

• Wider reach of patients / cases

• Excellent pay

• Greater efficiency in tasks

• Reduced chance of burnout

• Flexible scheduling

• Focus on your passion

When it comes to full-time, part-time or contract positions, one is not better than the other. It all depends on what’s the best fit for you. 

Pay structure

Telehealth pay structures can vary widely depending on the healthcare provider's role, location and the employing organization. Some healthcare organizations offer a fee-for-service model, where clinicians are paid per consultation or service provided. 

Fee-for-service models may include reimbursement for each virtual patient visit or a percentage of the billed amount. Telehealth professionals may also receive compensation for additional administrative duties and on-call services. 

Other telehealth positions might be a salary-based approach for full-time telemedicine clinicians or hourly for part-time positions. The pay structure in most cases depends on the position and healthcare company.

Multi-state licensure is essential

Licensing requirements for telehealth are typically the same as traditional, in-person care. However, if you work in telemedicine, you will likely need to be licensed in multiple states due to telehealth’s expanded patient reach. 

Each state has its own licensing requirements, and providing telemedicine services to patients residing in different states will require licensure in each of those states. Typically, telemedicine job postings will explicitly state which states you need to be licensed in. And being licensed in multiple different states can give you a competitive advantage when applying for jobs, as many telehealth organizations prefer multi-state licensed clinicians.

If you’re wondering which states you should be licensed in first, we’ve linked a great guide that’ll walk you through the top states to prioritize based on your goals. 

Who can work in telehealth?

Telehealth has a place and practical use case for just about every provider type out there.This diversity of clinicians includes physicians, specialists, nurse practitioners and physician assistants who offer primary and specialty care. 

Mental health professionals such as psychologists, psychiatrists, social workers and counselors deliver therapy and counseling services, addressing a critical need for remote mental health support. Additionally, registered nurses (NPs) and nurse specialists play crucial roles in telehealth, providing a spectrum of healthcare services, from triage and chronic disease management to patient education. 

Ready to find your dream telemedicine job?

Working for a telehealth company that aligns with your goals and values is essential to a fulfilling virtual healthcare career. At OpenLoop, we thoughtfully pair our network of clinicians with innovative healthcare organizations providing virtual and in-person care in all 50 states.

By joining OpenLoop’s network, you’ll have access to our easy-to-use technology designed with clinicians top-of-mind and  our dedicated, full-service clinician advocacy team. With 6,000+ providers already in our clinician network, you can tap into the OpenLoop advantage too.

Click here to browse our network of telehealth job openings!

• Nationwide connections

• Sync & async options

• Flexible scheduling

• Competitive pay

• Dedicated provider support

Sounds intriguing? Explore how you can join the OpenLoop Network!