Just because the pandemic is around, there’s no stopping illness and feeling sick. The pandemic has made it difficult for people to go to the doctor because of the number of priority cases like COVID-19 patients. You surely wouldn’t want to go to the hospital if there are patients suffering from the coronavirus since you surely don’t want to be sick.
During this pandemic, it seems like a challenge to go to the doctor. Telehealth visits make it easier for people who are especially vulnerable to getting sick with the virus. Thankfully, there are online consultation or telemed services already available since most doctors are following safety protocols as well. It’s a good way of keeping your appointment and getting real-time consultations as well.
Whether it’s your first time going to an online appointment or you’ve gone lots of times, take a look at these tips to keep your online appointment or experience it fully.
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Comparisons to an In-Person Visit
Based on the word ‘tele’, the telehealth visit is done using internet connections. You can talk to your physician in real-time and tell them what health problem or question you have. With this, you don’t need to risk getting the virus by commuting to go to the doctor’s office for your appointment.
The health care provider can already address many of your health issues and questions using this method. Of course, checking your vital signs won’t occur as well as many of the traditional processes, but you’re guaranteed safe and getting the same consultation while at home.
If you choose this method, you need to have a smartphone or a computer with a webcam.
How Do You Do the Visit Properly?
If you’re doing a telehealth visit, the good news is that you can do it anywhere in your home, as long as there’s a strong signal. To ensure that you’re getting most of the message of your doctor, consider doing it somewhere you can also feel comfortable speaking about your condition. It should be well-lit and quiet as well.
If you don’t want to transfer to another area during your visit, consider doing it somewhere you’ll feel comfortable sharing what ails you. The private home office or your own room is a great place to do this.
Preparing for the online visit before and during
If you’ve already covered the part of getting a good signal, then that’s part of your work done to make sure the telehealth visit goes without a hitch. This is also usually part of the decision of the patient to conduct a telehealth visit — the strength of the signal, aside from a well-ventilated, well-lit area.
There are some clinics where the secretary may call you ahead of the visit to get more of your details and information. This could happen after you’ve completed your online fill-up form. You should be forthcoming and straightforward with the information that they want from you.
Be Straightforward with Your Symptoms And What You Want To Be Done
This is also true with whatever the reason is behind your telehealth appointment. Whether it’s for a routine check-up or you’re feeling sick, tell the physician or their assistant beforehand. If you can’t remember it all, write it down so you’ll have an easier time explaining why you’re visiting through telehealth.
For instance, be ready to tell who’s asking how long you’ve had your fever for, the highs and lows of it, and any prior medications you took. Remember that this is just as if you’re in the room with your doctor. They’ll want you to be as clear and simple with your symptoms as possible.
Discussing Coverage and Co-Payments With Your Insurance Provider
After the visit and payments are being done, wouldn’t you want to be finished as soon as possible? Talk with your insurance company or healthcare provider to know whether they have provisions for telehealth visits. Knowing how long the pandemic has been on, most providers will have a method for this.
For those that offer coverage for these visits, you may still have to pay at least part of your bill. There are also some companies that may be limited or do not cover telehealth visits at all, so you should be prepared for that as well.
Your top priority should always be to go to the doctor to know what’s wrong with you, whether it’s the pandemic or not. Remember to always keep safe when you’re going for an in-person visit. If you prefer to go for a telehealth visit, however, you should always know what to say and how to keep it short and simple.