How To Choose A Telemedicine Service

In the past year or so, telehealth/telemedicine services as an alternative to physically visiting a doctor became more widespread and accessible. According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), telehealth visits increased 50% from the same period in 2019 and are only showing signs of improvement. Telemedicine is both convenient and accessible to anyone with a communication device with an internet connection. Indeed, telemedicine—the practice of receiving treatment from a professional, licensed doctor via video teleconferencing—is a pragmatic and valuable way to get the non-emergency treatment you need from the comfort of your living room. There are many services out there, however. In this article, we'll go over how to choose the exemplary telemedicine service for your needs.

Do They Take Your Insurance? 

The first step to choosing your telemedicine service is checking on their reputation and whether or not they take your insurance. Are they reputable? Would you please spend some time perusing your chosen provider's website to see how others rate them, how they operate, what their costs are, and how they handle insurance? Not all telemedicine services use under an umbrella; they're all individual organizations with their requirements, standards, and practices. Some states have laws requiring insurance companies to reimburse telemedicine costs at the same rate as in-person visits. Many companies embrace telemedicine and cover it with their proprietary services like Teledoc or MD Live. 

What Additional Benefits Do They Offer?

When seeing a doctor virtually, you can expect all the care, concern, and professionalism you'd get from a physical doctor. In addition to having quick access to licensed and well-trained online doctors, you get full HIPAA compliance in both the chat and how your records are kept. A provider may also give you access to medical resources, a 24/7 helpline, and the doctor may be able to send prescriptions straight to your local pharmacy for you to pick up. 

How Easy Is It To Book An Appointment?

Being confronted with the possibility of seeing a doctor differently from that to which they are accustomed can be a source of stress and dread for some people. Technology is instrumental, but it can be a challenge for some folks. It's the same story when navigating a website or choosing a healthcare provider. But there's some good news here: booking an appointment with a telemedicine provider is extremely easy. All you need to do is find your provider and sign up for the service. Once you've done that, you can start the process by selecting the reason for the appointment, choosing a doctor, entering your insurance information, and establishing a time for the provider to contact you. It will be helpful for the doctor if you have the means to take your temperature (a digital thermometer works best), blood pressure (use a blood pressure cuff), oxygen level, and pulse ahead of time (use a pulse oximeter for those last two items). You'll also need to list any pre-existing conditions and divulge what types of medications you're currently using. After that, it's merely a matter of speaking with the doctor and resolving your health concerns.  

Do They Offer Prescription Service?

One of the significant advantages of using telemedicine is convenience. This extends far beyond having the consultation/appointment itself and into the realm of remote prescriptions. Each state has different laws and guidelines for medications, so it's wise to understand yours ahead of time. As for the telemedicine provider itself, check with them to see if they offer this service. Many times, you'll be asked to select a pharmacy when you sign up for the appointment. This makes it easier for you to pick up a prescription locally, on your own time. After you have your consultation with the doctor, they'll inform you whether or not they'll be prescribing medication. If they do, they'll typically send over a document outlining the results of your consultation, what they've defined, what it does, and how often to take it. Then they'll send the scripts over to your chosen pharmacy, where you can pick them up at your convenience. If you end up needing a refill down the line, you can set up a new consultation with the doctor via the same telemedicine provider. 

Can They Treat Your Condition?

One of the best things about using a telemedicine provider is the versatility and range of the conditions, ailments, and illnesses they can treat. They can offer primary care such as monitoring and wellness checkups and assisting patients with managing chronic diseases like diabetes or hypertension. Additionally, they can treat some minor urgent care conditions like the flu or a sinus infection. Some providers offer mental health services and therapy too. Here's just a sample of what these providers can offer:

• Cold
• Flu
• Sinus infections
• Bacterial infections
• Pink eye
• Sore throat
• Urinary tract infections
• STDs
• Asthma
• Depression
• Anxiety
• Panic disorder
• Diabetes
• Hypertension
• Acne
• Yeast infection
• Back pain
• Bronchitis
• Rashes
• Upper Respiratory Infection 

Telemedicine isn't suitable for treating anything that requires an in-person or hands-on approach or any emergency surgery. It is also not meant for treating life-threatening conditions or significant emergencies. But it can be pretty valuable for addressing an array of routine medical care quickly and conveniently.