Treating college students via telemedicine

The annual departure of young adults to college campuses raises an important question for physicians — should they offer telemedicine visits to treat their patients from afar? The answer involves navigating a web of regulations, state licensing requirements, and practical considerations.

This article discusses general considerations for Texas physicians treating college students through telemedicine. It also includes a discussion of practical solutions for parents and students who make this request.

If you practice outside of Texas, please consult with your state medical board for guidance.  

Telemedicine and college students

In general, if the student will be attending college and seeking care in the same state that the physician is licensed — and the physician is comfortable practicing telemedicine — the physician may accept or retain the student as a patient via telemedicine.

But, if the student will be attending college outside the state where the physician is licensed, the answer is more complicated. It likely depends on the laws of the state where the student will be physically located when seeking treatment. (1) (See Telemedicine FAQs for more on this topic.)

In addition to licensing issues, physicians must comply with all applicable federal and state telemedicine laws. This includes proper set up of equipment; internet security and privacy; software and hardware integration; training and technical support; as well as addressing the likelihood of service interruptions. (2) If the physician is not set up for telemedicine, the answer to the telemedicine question may need to be “no.”

Physicians must also consider whether telemedicine is appropriate. Does the student have a chronic condition like diabetes or asthma? Would the telemedicine visits be for general wellness visits only? Can the college student request a telemedicine visit for skin rashes, digestive problems, and flu/COVID symptoms? What about urgent care or emergency care?

In Texas, the physician must meet the same standard of care as required for an in-person visit. This means that the physician must determine if it is appropriate to use telemedicine for every visit. In each case, physicians should consider:  


• the type of treatment or diagnostic procedure;
• the seriousness of the patient’s condition;
• the specific chronic conditions of the patient;
• the specific physical and/or mental abilities of the patient to present to the modality;
• the quality of the visual exam or need for a telepresenter;
• whether there is appropriate access to the patient’s diagnostic and medication history; and
• whether there are deficiencies in obtaining accurate clinical information regarding the specific patient. (3)

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Alternatives to telemedicine

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If telemedicine is not possible, physicians can offer to see college students when they are “home” (assuming you are licensed in that state) during school breaks. Arrangements can be made during these visits for any needed specialty care.

As for urgent or emergency care, the college student away from home should have ready access to an appropriate local health care clinic location (student or community), acute care facility, or hospital. Most importantly, the college student should be instructed to dial 911 in the event of an emergency.

The college student should also have your name and contact information as their “hometown” physician, especially if the college student has a chronic medical condition. This allows the student to access to their medical record. While this may not be what the student and parents were hoping for, it may be the solution that best protects you in the appropriate practice of telemedicine.

Sources

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1. Federation of State Medical Boards. Model policy for the appropriate use of telemedicine technologies in the practice of medicine. April 2022. Available at https://www.fsmb.org/siteassets/advocacy/policies/fsmb-workgroup-on-telemedicineapril-2022-final.pdf . Accessed February 6, 2025. 



2. Texas Occupations Code, Title 3, Subtitle A. Chapter 111. Telemedicine and Telehealth. Section 111.001. Available at https://statutes.capitol.texas.gov/Docs/OC/htm/OC.111.htm . Accessed February 6, 2025.

3. Texas Medical Association. Texas Laws and Regulations Relating to Telemedicine. Available at https://www.texmed.org/telemedicine/. Accessed February 6, 2025.

About the Author

Karin Zaner, JD of Zaner Law, PC, represents Texas physicians and physicians in training. She earned her Bachelor of Arts with special honors in the Plan II Honors Program at The University of Texas at Austin, before earning her law degree from the UT School of Law. Ms. Zaner serves on both the College of Liberal Arts Advisory Council and the Plan II Advisory Council at The University of Texas at Austin and is a member of the College of the State Bar of Texas.

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