This year, your healthcare needs are probably a little bit different. Everyone is doing their part to stay at home as much as possible. This can be especially challenging if you want to access your healthcare services. Hospitals, labs, and doctors offices are high-risk places that could easily expose you to COVID-19 or other air-borne illnesses.
The safest and most effective way to prevent the spread of COVID-19 is to stay home as much as possible. Luckily, healthcare companies and hospitals everywhere are now investing into more telehealth services.
Telehealth is an easy, effective, and convenient way for anyone to access their healthcare needs! Aside from getting to meet with your doctor “face to face” there are some other ways telehealth can help you get all your medical needs.
What Is Telehealth?
Telehealth is an umbrella term for accessing your medical care needs via technology. Have you ever booked a doctor’s appointment online? That’s considered telehealth! It’s likely that you’ve already used telehealth without even realizing it. Even if you haven’t used technology for medical purposes, telehealth uses all the same technology you’ve probably used before from zoom calls to texts.
This means you can access all your healthcare needs and questions with actual professionals via:
- Texts or other direct messaging apps
- Emails
- Telephone calls
- Video calls
- And more!
Telehealth has become so popular within the last few years that a 2017 survey found that over 60% of healthcare consumers now prefer it! Vets even offer
telehealth services for pets. Telehealth isn’t just convenient, it also has a lower copay, making it more affordable for healthcare consumers everywhere.
There are lots of upsides to using telehealth including:
- Having a healthcare professional’s undivided attention.
- Getting a focused and controlled call.
- No pointless check-ins and paperwork.
- No risk of contracting viruses or other air-borne illnesses.
- Better option for those with social or hospital anxiety.
- Lower copays and out-of-pocket expenses.
- Likely already covered in your current health insurance plan.
If you’re unsure as to whether or not your current plan has coverage, contact your healthcare provider. You can also call Quote Purple to talk to one of our partners about the telehealth coverage on their plans before this year’s open enrolment.
7 Medical Services You Can Get With Telehealth
There’s a plethora of endless options you have when it comes to your medical needs. Any kind of healthcare consultation you may need, you can get through telehealth. Here are X of the best and most innovative services you can use with telehealth.
Doctor and Nurses Visits
Although most doctors don’t do home visits anymore, you can still contact a physician without leaving your humble abode. Every step you would need to take to talk to your doctor about any concern you have can be done through telehealth. Book, visit, and discuss everything you need to all online. In addition to getting to speak with a healthcare professional, they can also:
- Offer advice and solutions
- Write prescriptions
- Book secondary and follow-up appointments
- Refer patients to specialists
Rather than having to speak to five different people in one visit alone, your doctor or nurse can now help you both administratively and medically in one call or text.
How Does A Doctor Telehealth Visit Work?
The call will work exactly the way a normal doctor’s visit works. The practitioner will take your basic information like your name, age, height, and sex and gender. Next, they’ll ask about some basic health history such as if you’re a diebetic, or have other major health conditions. Once the practitioner feels they have all your basic background information, they’ll begin to tend your concerns.
This might include getting you to show where you have a concern, or describing some of the symptoms you’ve experienced. Since your practitioner cannot physically touch you during this consultation, they may ask that you examine yourself and describe to them what you find. This is another upside to many people, as they could feel uncomfortable with the idea of a stranger needing to closely examine them this way. Nursing Support
Nursing Support
This is another common form of telehealth services. After you doctor consultation, you may have a follow-up appointment with a registered nurse. The nurse may help you set up a care plan, help you properly dress wounds, administer or prescribe medication, or monitor your overall health.
Pharmaceutical Services
Tired of waiting in seven different lines at the pharmacy for just one prescription? A doctor or registered nurse can now prescribe and administer all your prescriptions right to you! Certain medicines can even be delivered right to your door. A registered nurse or pharmacist can advise you on proper use and answer other questions about the medication.
Laboratory Tests and X-Rays
You know the saying “if you haven’t heard back from your doctor, it’s probably a good thing?” Well now you can see for yourself whether or not that test is a good or bad thing. Patients can now gather specimens for those super personal urine and fecal tests right in their own home.
Next, simply send it off to your physician’s desired lab, and wait at home for your results. Even blood tests and X-Rays can now be done at home with more patient access to portable machines and devices.
Specialized Therapy
Physical, occupational, and speech therapy sessions can also be done through telehealth now. This can be incredibly helpful for patients who have recently lost the ability to perform certain tasks, need a specialist who’s far away, or have difficulties leaving their home.
Medical Social Services.
Medical social workers can provide counseling and resources for recovery from drug addictions and other mental health problems. Online therapy, counseling, and physiatric care can now be through video chats and direct messages.
This can be especially helpful for those who may also need a little basic assistance care, but don’t want to lose their independence. Telehealth can offer a solution for the elderly or those in recovery who want to establish a better routine. Basic daily tasks and household duties are better managed with assistance care, but it can be expensive. Telehealth can offer a more affordable solution who may need a bit more comfort and support in their day to day lives.
Delivery and Transportation
Certain companies provide transportation to medical facilities, or will deliver prescriptions and lab tests for you. Meal delivery services like Meals-on-Wheels in addition to other community meal delivery services can all be managed through telehealth.
To find out if your health insurance has telehealth coverage, and what you would pay for these services, contact your healthcare provider. To speak with another health insurance provider before open enrolment, contact Quote Purple to speak with one of our partners.
