According to WHO, telemedicine is a term formed in the 1970s, which means “healing at a distance.”
Following the recent Covid-19 pandemic, telemedicine has been at the forefront of the fight against the virus. This global virus has forced a needed change in how we look at healthcare systems. Governments have had to ramp up their telemedicine offerings in recent times to reduce the flow of traffic to emergency rooms.
In a bid to stop endangering healthcare giver’s lives, hospitals around the world are using telemedicine both within and without the hospital to reduce the incursion of patients needing care. Videos visits are helping to minimize exposure of hospital staff and the exposure of immune-compromised patients.
How to Use Telemedicine?
The best place to start is to contact your health care provider. Most hospitals have a telemedicine portal and app for all their patients. Register and follow all their prompts.
However, if you do not have a PCP, you can still get access to urgent care on the go. There are urgent care apps like Ourdoctor that can give you virtual access to a doctor when you need it.
Over the years, telemedicine has aided doctors to treat patients in three categories:
- Patients with ongoing conditions like depression or diabetes
- Patients with everyday care issues like birth control or hair loss
- Patients with urgent care issues like cold and flu
Kyle Rao, CEO of Ourdoctor, says that there are people of all ages benefiting from using telemedicine it isn’t just young people.
How to Pay for Telemedicine?
When you sign up for telemedicine services like Ourdoctor. Insurance is not required. You can either sign up for a one time visit or a monthly subscription.
When Should You Go to the ER?
Issues of a more severe nature warrant for a visit to the ER. For example, regular shortness of breath, given existing circumstances, should be enough reason to visit your doctor.
Advance notice of your arrival at the urgent care center will benefit you in the end.