Why schedule a telehealth appointment now

Don’t want to take time away from summer plans to go to the doctor? You don’t have to.

Despite the many challenges of the pandemic, there have been some advantages. One is the increase in the availability of telehealth, also called telemedicine. Telehealth allows you to have a “virtual house call” with your doctor – and you don’t even have to be at home to do it.

Telemedicine has been around for years, but its use increased an estimated 3,000% when safer-at-home and quarantine orders were in effect during the early phases of the pandemic. Because it was so well received by providers and patients, industry experts predict it will continue to be a popular health care choice even when we’re no longer in a pandemic.

Of course, telehealth is not appropriate for visits requiring hands-on care or testing, like blood draws, injections or X-rays. And it should not be used for serious medical issues, such as a suspected heart attack, stroke or drug overdose. But many primary care and specialist visits, including wellness exams and a number of urgent care needs, can be addressed via telehealth.

Here are 7 benefits of telemedicine:

1. It can be done from virtually anywhere. Telehealth relies on video conferencing, or in some cases, a simple phone call. So even if you can’t get a babysitter, don’t want to take off from work or you’re on vacation, you can still keep up with your health or address concerns with your provider in a convenient way.
2. It reduces the risk of exposure to germs and viruses. Telehealth helped keep patients out of doctors’ offices, medical centers and hospitals during the pandemic, where the highly contagious COVID-19 virus was rampant. But think of all the other contagious diseases out there. Who hasn’t sat in a waiting room listening to someone coughing and wondering if they might catch something?
3. It saves time and money. Although the cost for a telehealth visit might be the same as an in-person visit, think of the valuable time and money you’ll save if you don’t have to do things like find a babysitter, take time off work, pay to park and spend time driving back and forth to the office and waiting for your appointment.
4. It gives people in rural and medically underserved areas increased access to a doctor. When there’s no physician for miles around, it requires even more time and money to get to an appointment. Unfortunately, when going to the doctor is a big hassle, most people choose to put it off. Not seeing a doctor regularly can result in missing chronic health conditions at their earliest stages, when they are more treatable.
5. It gives home-bound patients more health care options. Those who are unable to walk, who are tethered to medical equipment or who don’t have access to reliable transportation have a difficult time getting to the doctor. Telehealth makes it easier for doctors to monitor the health of those who may need ongoing care most.
6. It allows patients to have others with them for visits. If your daughter lives in another state but you’d like her to hear what the doctor has to say, no problem. Your telehealth visit can be a three-way video or phone call. You can also have someone in the room with you during the call to take notes so you don’t forget anything.
7. It’s more comfortable for many patients. Some people put off medical care because they don’t like going to a doctor’s office. People struggling with anxiety, depression and other mental health issues may feel more at ease opening up to a therapist when they’re in the comfort of their own home. In addition to medical care, telehealth is a great option for behavioral health care.

Make your telehealth appointment today!

If you're a Saint Agnes Care patient and would like to take advantage of our telehealth option for your next visit, please call your doctor's office to schedule an appointment. We're also pleased to offer virtual Urgent Care for any patient with an urgent need. Click here to schedule.

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_{Date Last Reviewed: April 14, 2021}

_{Editorial Review: Andrea Cohen, Editorial Director, Baldwin Publishing, Inc. Contact Editor}

_{Medical Review: Perry Pitkow, MD}

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