Telemedicine is making health care more accessible to many. However, if you’re technically challenged, you may feel a bit leery about using your computer to see your doctor.
At Weston Medical Health & Wellness in Weston, Florida, our medical director, Dr. Andrea Bretal, understands your fears. But telemedicine is easier than you think and is a good option when you need medical care, but can’t get to the office.
Here, we want to talk about telemedicine and how it can work for you, even if you think you’re too technically challenged.
Telemedicine 101
Telemedicine uses technology to provide medical services from a distance. Instead of meeting at your provider’s office, you use various forms of telecommunication to connect from a place that works better for you, like your home or office.
Telemedicine has grown in popularity over the past couple of years, but it’s not new. Health care providers have been using various forms of communication technology to meet with patients to discuss health and treat and prevent diseases for more than 100 years.
Before the computer, internet, and smartphone, health care providers talked to patients over the telephone. With advances in technology, today’s providers can see and talk to their patients remotely using video conferencing apps.
But telemedicine is more than just one-on-one visits with your doctor. Telemedicine includes:
- Electronic prescriptions
- Electronic medical records
- Sharing of health information between providers
- Text and email messages between patient and provider
Telemedicine makes it easier for patients who can’t get to the doctor’s office to receive medical services. It also speeds up communication between providers, improving the timeliness of your care.
What you need for virtual visits
Our virtual visits are done through a safe and secure video conferencing app. You need a computer, tablet, or smartphone with a microphone and camera and access to the internet for our telehealth services.
For these visits, we send a link to your appointment in an email. You click the link and follow the prompts to check in. The app may ask you to do a pre-call test to make sure it can access your microphone and camera so we can hear and see each other.
We request that you go to a place that’s private and quiet with good lighting. If you don’t have access to the internet or a device that allows video conferencing, we can talk over the telephone for your telemedicine appointment.
Can telemedicine work for me?
If you need to see a health care provider and can’t make it to the office, telemedicine is a great option. It’s convenient and saves you time and money.
We keep our telemedicine platform simple so anyone can use it, even those who think they’re technically challenged. But telemedicine isn’t right for everyone. Ultimately, it’s up to you to decide how you want to meet with your health care provider.
We provide many services through telehealth, including primary care sick visits, chronic disease management, mental wellness appointments, prescription refills, and nutrition counseling.
We don’t treat emergency or life-threatening conditions at our virtual clinic. If you think you’re having a heart attack or stroke, call 911 or go to the nearest emergency room.
Telehealth is easy and accessible. Don’t let your fear of technology keep you from getting virtual medical care. Call our office today at 954-466-9679 or request a telehealth appointment online.