Telemedicine Physician Jobs in Maine

How To Become a Remote Physician in Maine

Before deciding on a career as a virtual care physician, know that you’ll be held to the same standards and will need the same qualifications as doctors who practice in an in-person facility.

To be eligible for telehealth roles in Maine, you must follow the traditional medical education and training track, and be either board eligible or board certified. This is the path you’ll need to take to become a remote physician in the Pine Tree State:

• Education: The first step aspiring telemedicine physicians must take is to obtain a bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution. You’ll then need to earn a Medical Doctor (MD) or Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine (DO) degree.

• Exams: Towards the end of your time in medical school, you must take and pass the first portion of the United States Medical Licensing Examination (USMLE).

• Residency: After you graduate with a medical degree, you’ll need to apply for residency programs to become specialized in your area of choice. Those seeking a career in telemedicine should consider internal medicine, emergency medicine, and family medicine. These specialties tend to be highly sought after by virtual care companies because they address a wide range of health issues and patient demographics.

• Become licensed to practice medicine in Maine: One of the last steps toward medical licensure is to complete the final portion of the USMLE exam. Those training to become a Doctor of Osteopathic medicine need to complete the Comprehensive Osteopathic Medical Licensing Examination (COMLEX-USA). Finally, you’ll have to submit an application for physician licensure to the Maine Board of Licensure in Medicine. The application fee for medical licensure in Maine is $700.

• Board certification: To become a board-certified MD or DO, you’ll first take and pass the ABMS exam. Note that for some remote physician jobs, you’re required to be board certified.

Requirements for Remote Physicians in Maine

Working as a telehealth physician can be an excellent way to supplement your income while maintaining a flexible schedule. Whether you’re interested in full-time or part-time virtual work, you’ll find an array of opportunities for MDs and DOs in Maine.

Once you’ve obtained licensure and board certification, you can determine which type of virtual care position suits you best whether you live in Portland, Lewiston, Bangor, or anywhere else in the state.

Before applying to remote physician roles, you should be aware of the following:

• Work-from-home physicians: Telehealth physicians need to adhere to the same standard of care as they would in an in-person office setting. The key difference is that instead of face-to-face visits, you’ll use technology to complete synchronous (video or phone) and asynchronous (chat) patient consultations. Legally, you can only treat patients who are physically located in the state where you are licensed.

• Additional training: There is no state-mandated training specific to telemedicine, but many virtual care companies provide onboarding for clinicians on how to use relevant technology and platforms. These onboarding sessions may also include best practices for good webside manner.

• Necessary documentation: When applying for telemedicine roles, make sure to update your resume and provide appropriate paperwork confirming your education and credentials.

Virtual care companies usually post open roles on job posting sites like Indeed, ZipRecruiter, Glassdoor, and LinkedIn, so this is a good place to start looking for remote physician opportunities. Wheel matches doctors with telehealth positions and has a variety of opportunities available for MDs and DOs in Maine. Check out this article for tips on how to evaluate telehealth job opportunities in primary care.