How to Introduce Your Telehealth Group to Your Department

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Virtual introduction of telehealth intenstivists to department team gathered in hospital conference roomBuilding trust, transparency and collaboration from day one

November 26, 2025

Telehealth has become a cornerstone of modern hospital operations, but introducing new, virtual teammates to your department is a major transition. Whether your hospital is adopting tele-critical care, tele-neurology or virtual nursing, success not only depends on the technology, but also on how the team is welcomed and integrated.

We know that hospital-based telehealth thrives when clinicians feel supported, workflows remain seamless and communication is clear. Let’s explore how leaders can introduce a telehealth medical group to their department in a way that builds confidence, fosters collaboration and sets the stage for long-term success.

Start with the “Why”

Before introducing a telehealth group, it’s crucial to be honest about the purpose of the change. The most important piece you want to communicate to your staff is that telehealth is not replacing them.

Frame the conversation around the challenges that your clinicians face day to day: staffing shortages, the need for specialized expertise or the desire to reduce high rates of burnout. Then, connect those challenges to the solutions that telehealth intensivists and nurses provide. For example:

  • Tele-ICU programs ensure 24/7 coverage, even during nights, weekends and holidays.
  • Telehealth brings costly and hard-to-recruit specialists directly into rural hospitals without costly transfers.
  • Virtual care programs in the ICU and other departments free bedside staff to focus on direct patient care and work top of license.

By starting with the “why,” you help your on-site team see telehealth as a tool designed to strengthen and help them, not take control.

Introduce the Team, Not Just the Technology

When you first learn about telehealth, it can seem completely impersonal, as it’s usually introduced only as a platform or screen.

That’s why it’s important to introduce the people behind the service; share their credentials, experience and what specialty they bring expertise in to your facility.

To strengthen that connection, consider hosting a kickoff meeting where staff can meet the telehealth team, ask questions and learn how they’ll collaborate. When you put faces to names, it’s easier to trust and embrace a partnership.

Clarify Roles and Responsibilities

One of the biggest, most universal concerns that any staff member has when a new tool or person is added to their workflow is: “How will this affect my role?”

Honest and clear communication about responsibilities helps ease those concerns. In your specific setting, explain how telehealth clinicians will integrate into existing workflows. For example:

  • Tele-intensivists may join daily rounds virtually, offering guidance for bedside staff.
  • Virtual nurses may handle documentation, patient monitoring or discharge planning to free up bedside nurses for more direct care.
  • Virtual sitters may monitor patients who are at risk of falls or wandering, reducing the need for constant in-room observation.

When roles are clearly set, staff can picture how telehealth will complement, rather than complicate, their work.

Provide Training and Ongoing Support

If your team doesn’t feel comfortable using a telehealth program, it won’t be leveraged to its true potential. Reiterate how telehealth fits into their daily routines, and then realize that training should go beyond technical instructions.

Offer hands-on sessions where staff can practice connecting with telehealth clinicians, review documentation processes and troubleshoot common issues. Ensure that support is always available after launch to further ease nerves and ensure issues don’t escalate. Host regular touch-bases with department leaders and frontline staff. Better yet: identify technology advocates who can bring others along.

The goal is to build confidence and nurture new relationships. When clinicians know they can rely on the system and get help when needed, they’re more likely to use telehealth effectively.

Highlight Early Wins

Change can feel overwhelming, but celebrating early successes helps build momentum. Consider sharing success stories straight from your telehealth provider. They may have shared these with you when you were finding the perfect provider for your hospital.

These could include scenarios like these:

  • A stroke patient received timely treatment and avoided a stroke-related disability thanks to a remote neurologist.
  • ICU staff felt supported during a busy night shift with tele-intensivist coverage.
  • A virtual sitter prevented a fall, protecting both patient safety and staff workload.

These examples prove that telehealth isn’t an experiment or theory but a practical solution that has improved outcomes worldwide.

Encourage Feedback and Collaboration

Introducing a telehealth medical group should be a two-way conversation. Encourage staff to share feedback about workflows, communication and patient interactions.

Create regular check-ins where both bedside and telehealth teams can discuss what’s working and what areas need improvement. A collaborative approach ensures the program evolves to meet the department’s needs and reinforces that telehealth is a partnership.

Telehealth is Part of the Future of Health…It Can Be Part of Your Future Too

Finally, frame telehealth as a long-term strategy, not just a temporary fix. Align it with your department’s goals and you’ll help your team see it as an investment in their success and the hospital’s mission.

Remember: start with the “why,” introduce the team, clarify roles, provide training, celebrate wins and encourage feedback.

Intercept Telehealth is proud to partner with hospitals across the country to deliver 24/7, hospital-based telehealth services. If you’re ready to introduce telehealth to your team and become part of this ongoing story, connect with us today!