You are on a video call with a young woman who has finally started to open up. She is crying, sharing fears she has never spoken out loud. Then the screen freezes.
Or the audio cuts out. Or you have to stop everything and resend an invite link. That moment of trust? Gone. And it may not come back.
This is the fear that keeps many counselors from embracing telehealth. It is not that they doubt the value of virtual options counseling for eKyros clinics. They worry the technology will fail at the worst possible time.
They picture fumbling with passwords while a patient waits in confused silence on the other end.
The good news is that it does not have to be this way.
The right platform removes the friction so you can focus on what matters: her eyes, her voice, and her needs. In this guide, we will show you how Curogram's simple video tools help you deliver the same compassionate care you provide in person, without the tech headaches.
Whether you are new to eKyros video visits or looking for counselor tips for telemedicine, this article will walk you through everything from launching a session to documenting the visit in real time.
Options counseling is not a routine check-up. It is one of the most personal and emotional conversations a patient will ever have. When a counselor sits with someone facing an unplanned pregnancy, every second of connection counts.
Now imagine that connection breaking mid-sentence. The screen goes black. The patient hears static instead of your voice. The counselor scrambles to fix the problem while the patient sits alone in her room, wondering what just happened.
This is what we call “The Glitch,” and it is one of the biggest reasons counselors hesitate to go virtual.
The problem is rarely just “bad internet.” It is often something small but disruptive:
Each extra step between your patient and the conversation creates another opportunity for the moment to unravel.
The damage from a tech failure goes both ways. The counselor feels flustered and unprepared. The patient may feel frustrated, abandoned, or embarrassed for having opened up.
Research on tele-therapy shows that technical disruptions during emotionally sensitive sessions can weaken trust and set back the therapeutic relationship. In crisis conversations, trust is not optional; it is the foundation.
And it is rarely just one bad call. A single painful experience with a dropped video visit can linger in a counselor’s memory. The next time a patient lives too far away to come in, hesitation creeps in. Avoidance becomes a pattern. Patients who need support the most quietly fall through the cracks.
Many pregnancy center staff do not resist remote crisis intervention because they doubt its value. They resist because they have been burned before by clunky software, confusing login steps, or calls that end without warning.
The fear of “The Glitch” is real, and it is valid. The solution is not to abandon virtual care. It is to choose technology designed specifically for high-stakes, deeply human conversations—where reliability protects trust instead of threatening it.
The best technology is the kind you forget is there. That is exactly how Curogram was designed to work. There are no apps to download, no accounts to create, and no complicated steps for your patient to follow.
Think about the last time you used a tool that just worked. No instructions. No troubleshooting. No help desk. That is the experience
Curogram aims to deliver for both counselors and patients, every single time. When the platform disappears into the background, attention stays where it belongs—on the person in front of you.
Three Steps to a Face-to-Face Connection
Here is how simple the process is:
That is the entire workflow. There is no app store visit, no account creation, and no password to remember.
This simplicity is why conducting virtual assessments through Curogram feels natural instead of intimidating. The patient does not need to be tech-savvy. She does not need a laptop. If she can receive a text and open a web browser, she can join a session.
Removing friction at the start of the call, including streamlining digital intake, dramatically reduces the chance of confusion or last-minute drop-off.
Curogram relies on WebRTC, a lightweight, browser-based video technology that connects directly through the patient’s device. Unlike heavier platforms such as Zoom or Microsoft Teams, this approach avoids unnecessary downloads and background processes that often cause lag or crashes.
It performs reliably even on older smartphones or limited data plans—an important consideration for patients who may not have the latest devices or unlimited internet access.
The result is a seamless telehealth workflow tailored for pregnancy centers. The technology fades away. The conversation remains steady.
And instead of troubleshooting a screen, you can stay fully present with the person who needs you most.
Curogram is more than just a video call. It comes with tools built for the unique needs of counselors working within the eKyros system. Here is a closer look at what sets it apart from general-purpose video platforms.
Screen Sharing for Patient Education
During a session, you may want to show a fetal development chart, adoption resources, or medical diagrams. With screen sharing, you can pull up these materials on your computer and display them to your patient in real time. There is no need to email documents ahead of time or ask her to search for links on her own.
This feature makes eKyros video visits more effective because it lets you guide the conversation with visual aids. Instead of describing what something looks like, you can show her directly.
It turns a simple video call into a complete counseling experience where the patient can see exactly what you are explaining.
Visual aids also help when language is a barrier. A chart or diagram can communicate what words sometimes cannot, especially when emotions are running high.
Some counselors also use screen sharing to walk patients through next steps, such as how to access community resources or schedule a follow-up appointment.
Built-In Privacy That Builds Trust
Privacy is critical in options counseling. Curogram ensures that while you can see and hear your patient, the video session is never recorded or stored on a server. This is a key difference from some general video tools where recording may be turned on by default or where meeting data sits on a company server.
This protection matters deeply. When a patient knows the session is private and secure, she is more likely to open up and speak honestly. It removes one more barrier between her and the help she needs.
For many women, the fear that someone else might see or hear what they shared is enough to keep them silent.
Unlike some platforms that require patients to agree to recording policies or create accounts that store personal data, Curogram keeps things simple and private by design. The patient clicks a link, talks to her counselor, and when the session ends, the video is gone.
Real-Time Documentation with eKyros
You can keep the eKyros chart open on one screen while running the Curogram video on another. This lets you document the session as it happens, just like you would in an exam room. All notes, observations, and follow-up plans go straight into the patient record without any extra steps.
This real-time approach means nothing gets lost after the session ends. You do not have to scramble to remember details thirty minutes later when you finally sit down to chart.
It supports a smooth workflow and keeps your records complete for future visits or handoffs to other team members.
Starting with virtual counseling can feel uncertain, even with reliable technology. These counselor tips for telemedicine will help you set the stage for a successful session from the very first call.
Setting Up for Success
Keep in mind that virtual does not mean impersonal. Many patients actually feel safer opening up from their own space, where they have more control over their surroundings. Your calm presence and steady eye contact through the camera can be just as powerful as sitting across a desk.
If a connection issue does come up during a session, stay calm and let the patient know you are still there.
A simple text saying "I'm here, the video is reconnecting" can keep the trust intact while the technology catches up. Patients understand that technology is not perfect. What they remember is how you handled the moment.
Over time, these small habits become second nature. Most counselors find that after two or three virtual sessions, the process feels just as comfortable as an in-person visit.
When it comes to sensitive patient conversations, security is not optional. Curogram was built from the ground up with HIPAA compliance at its core, so you never have to wonder whether your virtual sessions meet regulatory standards.
What HIPAA Compliance Looks Like in Practice
Every video session through Curogram is encrypted end-to-end. This means that the data traveling between you and your patient cannot be intercepted or viewed by anyone else.
Unlike consumer-grade tools that may store recordings on their servers, Curogram does not keep any video data after the session ends.
Here is what that looks like in your day-to-day work.
This level of protection is especially important for pregnancy centers where patients may face social pressure or safety concerns. Knowing that their session cannot be retrieved or reviewed by anyone outside the care team gives patients the confidence to speak freely.
For your center, this also means fewer compliance headaches. You do not need to manage separate encryption tools or worry about staff accidentally enabling a recording feature.
Curogram handles the security so your team can focus entirely on the care.
If your organization has ever dealt with the stress of a compliance audit, you know how valuable it is to have a system that checks these boxes automatically. With Curogram, the protection is built in from the moment you send that first text link.
Is Curogram's video platform HIPAA-compliant?
Yes. Every video session through Curogram is encrypted end-to-end and no recordings are ever stored on a server. The platform was built specifically for healthcare settings where patient privacy is a top priority.
Do patients need to download an app to join a virtual visit?
No. Patients simply click a link sent by text message and the video session opens directly in their phone's web browser. There is no app download, no account creation, and no password required.
Can I use Curogram for virtual options counseling with eKyros?
Absolutely. Curogram integrates directly with eKyros, so you can run a video session on one screen while documenting the visit in the eKyros chart on another. All session data stays connected for continuity of care.
What happens if the internet connection drops during a session?
Curogram uses a lightweight browser-based connection that is more stable than heavy video apps. If a brief disruption does occur, you can quickly send a text to your patient letting her know you are still there and reconnect within seconds.
Does Curogram work on older phones with limited data?
Yes. Because Curogram runs through the browser and does not require a large app download, it works well even on older devices with slower data connections. This makes it a practical choice for reaching patients who may not have the newest technology.
Distance should never determine who receives compassion. Some patients cannot drive to your center because of work schedules, childcare responsibilities, or unreliable transportation.
Others may feel emotionally safer opening up from their own space, where they are not worried about being seen walking into a pregnancy center. Virtual counseling gives them that choice—and in crisis care, choice restores dignity.
When access becomes flexible, barriers quietly disappear. A patient who would have postponed an appointment for weeks can connect the same day. Someone juggling two jobs can step into a private room during a break.
A young mother can speak freely after her children fall asleep. Virtual care does not replace your physical space; it expands it.
With the right tools, your reach grows without your workload becoming heavier. You do not need a larger building, additional front-desk coverage, or extended office hours to serve more patients.
You simply need technology that works reliably, loads quickly, and protects privacy without adding extra steps for staff or clients.
That is where Curogram makes a difference. Designed to integrate smoothly with eKyros, it allows you to extend care beyond your four walls without creating a second system to manage. Appointments, communication, and video visits stay connected in one streamlined workflow.
The result is not more complexity—it is more capacity.
With a stable, simple, and private browser-based connection, you can meet patients wherever they are and offer the same attentiveness they would receive sitting across from you in your office.
The environment may change, but the compassion does not. Your sanctuary is no longer limited by geography; it travels with you.
Counsel with confidence. If you are ready to see how seamless virtual visits can be for your team, schedule a demo today and discover how easy it is to bring your sanctuary beyond the clinic walls.