One of the most significant benefits of telemedicine is that so many can take advantage of the increased accessibility of their doctor; as long as you have access to technology, you can make an online doctor visit. There’s not much downside that you have to worry about.
All you need is an ordinary smartphone or a laptop with a decent webcam. You may also need to use a specific telehealth application, like Teladoc or MDLive, that protects your privacy as you speak with your doctor on demand.
You might be a bit apprehensive about scheduling your first appointment with an online doctor, so I want this article to give you peace of mind and help you access the care you need during these trying times.
What types of visits are available for telemedicine?
Generally, telemedicine is available in three different delivery models:
Store-and-forward telemedicine
Remote patient monitoring
Real-time telemedicine
You may or may not have heard of these so let me provide a short explanation of each one.
Store-and-forward telemedicine
Store-and-forward telemedicine refers to the coordination of a team of physicians to collaborate on a patient's care. The benefit is that several specialists can have quick and easy access to the same information. This type of telemedicine works well for specific medical specialties, such as gastroenterology.
Remote patient monitoring
Remote patient monitoring is similar but distinct from store-and-forward telehealth. If I use remote patient monitoring in my practice, I need to track a patient’s health status regularly. Remotely monitoring a patient's glucose levels is a perfect example.
Real-time telemedicine
Real-time telemedicine receives the most attention in the medical field, especially during the COVID-19 public health crisis. Telemedicine visits only require video conferencing software and a private place to have a consultation. There's usually no extra setup, except for downloading and sometimes registering an account with the secure software platform being utilized.
Why you should try telemedicine
In this day and age, public health safety measures are top-of-mind for everybody, especially at my practice. We care about providing quality care to all of our patients, whether or not they can drive to our location. Everyone deserves access to their doctor, even though pandemic has limited our ability to interact face-to-face.
It's a comforting experience to speak with immuno-compromised or high-risk patients safely without exposing them unnecessarily to the risk of contracting COVID-19. It will take the entire medical field working together to ensure that patients just like you don't have to wait to see a doctor merely because medical resources are scarce. The increased attention and utilization of Telemedicine by doctors and patients alike has helped to move this efficient practice to the forefront of appointment scheduling today.
Nowadays, speaking with a doctor on demand is easy. You don't have to take time off from work or find a babysitter on short notice. It's genuinely cost-effective for both patients and physicians alike.
Another reason you should try telemedicine is that most insurance plans will cover it. I've had several patients who were at first apprehensive about speaking with me online, but their concerns always subside after a few telehealth consultations.
Are you ready to schedule your first telemedicine appointment with Dr. Dale?
If you need to schedule an appointment at our practice, click below to book a consultation.
– Dr. Dale Prokupek, MD