Which statement about telemedicine is true?

• A. A physician-patient relationship must be established, standard of care maintained
• B. Telemedicine may be used without any physician-patient relationship
• C. A relationship is not required if the patient is known
• D. Telemedicine visits do not require any documentation

Answer: (A)

Establishing a physician-patient relationship and maintaining the standard of care are essential in telemedicine. Even though care is delivered remotely, the clinician must form a legitimate relationship with the patient and provide care that meets the same professional standards as an in-person visit. This means performing an appropriate assessment, making a valid diagnosis, creating a treatment plan, and arranging follow-up as needed, all while recognizing the limitations of remote evaluation. Documentation is mandatory: obtain and record patient consent for telemedicine, note the modality used, document findings, rationale for decisions, and any prescriptions or referrals. The other statements miss these core requirements because care cannot be provided without a proper relationship, and visits must be documented to be compliant with regulatory and professional standards.