Seeing a doctor online is an easy, convenient way to address a medical issue without the need to leave your home. As technology has made seeing a doctor easier and more accessible, it’s also paved the way for technological innovation in practicing medicine. Telemedicine offers a unique way to get treated for certain medical concerns easily without interfering with your busy life and schedule. From basic health and wellness concerns to managing ongoing conditions, telemedicine is the next frontier for taking control of your health. It’s easy, convenient, and often included with your medical insurance. Here’s what to expect from a virtual doctor’s visit via telemedicine.
How It Works
Telemedicine is pretty simple. First, you find a reputable telemedicine provider. Check with your insurance company to see if they provide coverage for a preferred one. Then, open up your browser and do some research. Find a company that’s been around a hape os just as cwhile and has a history of actually helping their patients. The website should also be intuitive, private, and it should be very simple to book an appointment. Providers like Plushcare, MDLive, and Teladoc are well-known, reputable providers with a strong history of successfully treating patients remotely. Once you’ve found a service, you’ll book an appointment using their website’s interface, pay any applicable co-pays, and set up a time for your appointment. Some providers will give you an option between a phone call or a video call. If it’s your first appointment with the provider, you’ll need to supply medical information, a description of your symptoms, and any concerns you might have. It’s also helpful to take your temperature and blood pressure ahead of time and give that to the doctor as well. When you’re speaking with the doctor, they’ll go over your symptoms, ask targeted questions, and come up with a treatment plan. They may also write out a prescription for your condition. At the call’s conclusion, you’ll likely receive feedback and a summary of the call, your treatment plan, and pertinent information regarding your prescriptions.
Pain And Chronic Condition Management
One of the main reasons you might consult a doctor this way is to help manage pain or a chronic condition. If you’re very active and workout regularly, you might have some pain issues that require regular attention. These are all things that can be managed during a virtual doctor visit or consultation. Other chronic conditions such as diabetes, high blood pressure, arthritic pain, allergies, asthma, renal disease, obesity, and many others. Online doctors help develop treatment plans, check ups, prescriptions, and wellness checks. They may use a mix of email, text, and phone calls to check in with you to determine whether a treatment is working and help you understand any changes/adjustments to the plan that may be required.
Urgent Care
Visiting an urgent care clinic in person can often result in long wait times and costly medical bills. Fortunately, there’s a way to get around this using your own insurance and telemedicine. Simply contact your telemedicine provider to help treat urgent, non-emergency conditions. So l, what do telemedicine providers typically classify as urgent care? Providers typically treat cold, flu, sinus infections, rashes, urinary tract infections, bacterial infections, sore throat, and many others under the “urgent care” umbrella.
Mental Health
Taking care of the body is crucial, but keeping your mental health in good shape is just as critical. Unfortunately, there is an epidemic of prejudice, misunderstanding, stigma, avoidance, and discrimination against people dealing with mental health concerns in the United States. Access to treatments for mental health concerns like depression, panic, and anxiety are more available/accessible via telemedicine. In a private, comfortable setting (your own home), you can access a teletherapist through a reputable telemedicine provider. The therapist can help you work through issues, prescribe treatment, and supply access to educational resources. Teletherapy is not suitable for conditions like schizophrenia or bipolar, but it can effectively remove several physical and social barriers to obtaining treatment for several mental health issues you may not have sought treatment for otherwise.
Prescriptions
It might seem a bit odd to get a prescription without physically seeing a doctor, but it’s one of the best benefits of using telemedicine to treat a condition. Here’s how it works:
- You set up your virtual appointment with the doctor and do the consultation.
- The doctor asks specific, targeted questions to assess your condition and possible treatment.
- The doctor devises a treatment plan and discusses it with you. It may include prescription medication.
- The doctor will advise you on the medication’s dosage, use, and effects.
- They’ll send it to your local pharmacy.
- You can pick it up at your convenience.
- An online doctor may be able to prescribe refills after a follow up consultation depending on the terms and conditions of your telemedicine provider.
There are some medications that cannot be prescribed via telemedicine and every provider has different guidelines for how they manage prescriptions. Telemedicine providers are able to prescribe antibiotics and various other medications as allowed by the DEA and their state of residence.
Disclaimer
The Content is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition.
