Your doctor is online
Telemedicine is the remote delivery of healthcare services such as health assessments or consultations over the phone or online.
Like food and grocery home delivery, telemedicine was a thing before the COVID-19 Pandemic. However, its application has undoubtedly increased in recent months. And with good reason.
Telemedicine allows doctors to evaluate potentially contagious patients outside of the health care centre.
There is no need to underscore how important it is to isolate potentially infected patients. This sentiment has been echoed repeatedly by health care officials; if you feel sick stay home and call BEFORE you visit a doctors’ office, clinic or hospital.
Always research the credentials of your doctor.
Telemedicine Advantages
Stepping away from the context of the new coronavirus for a moment, if we can, telemedicine also has the added advantage of saving a commute, a long stint in a waiting room and by extension time and money!
Telemedicine also gives patients access to the best doctors, even if the “best doctor” is on the other side of the island or the other side of the world.
All of a sudden, a specialist becomes accessible, or an urgent situation at a remote location can be handled by a professional.
Telemedicine is also great for reviewing your lab results with your health care provider or requesting a prescription refill.
Believe it or not, using telemedicine, doctors can even offer mental health and physical therapy to their patients.
In short, telehealth platforms facilitate increased access to health care.
Telemedicine Limitations
Of course, all the technology in the world cannot replace the human touch; take that either literally or figuratively if you like.
Following a telemedicine session, it may be necessary for you to make an in-person visit to your physician. Alternately, you may prefer the rapport afforded by a physical face to face visit.
Finally, the limitations of technology could render the telemedicine session ineffective for the proper diagnosis of some illnesses.
Pros and cons aside, telemedicine provides a necessary and often useful option for in-person visits
Telemedicine Options
If you already have a primary care physician, check with them to find out if they offer a telemedicine platform. The time to do that is today, as you never know when you might need an emergency consultation.
If you are shopping around for a doctor, you can use a service such as MD Link. The platform connects doctors from across the region for online appointments. Ensure that you check the credentials and reviews for the doctors available.
For me, video would be the best option for a patient-doctor interview. But telemedicine also facilitates contact via audio or text message.
Telemedicine Capabilities
Telemedicine service providers often can:
Provide electronic prescriptions or refills and send directly to your pharmacy
Generate a doctor’s note for school or work
Offer general media advice and
Order and review lab tests
Telemedicine Session Basics
Whether you are logging on with your family doctor or using a service to find a new doctor, keep security in mind. Expect that your session will be recorded; even if your doctor doesn’t record the meeting, you should.
Once you’ve booked your appointment, but before it starts, you should:
Test your equipment (phone, tablet, laptop or desktop computer with a webcam), lighting and internet connection
Set up the camera at eye level
Consider using headphones for best audio
Gather your prescriptions, lab reports and other relevant information as applicable
Have your health care card and credit/debit card on hand, and
Be on time
While in the session, pay attention and don’t expect to chit chat with your doctor as, likely, they have a patient waiting after you. And, be sure to take notes about any necessary aftercare.
Save time and money with telemedicine.
Telemedicine won’t replace all visits to the doctor’s office, clinic or hospital, but, especially now, it provided a well-needed alternative.
Please tan a yuh yard and stay safe.
