Telehealth is one of the best new additions to your healthcare line-up, but like with all things, it isn’t a perfect solution. This doesn’t mean it’s not a very powerful tool or won’t be instrumental in improving your quality of life and health management. What it means is that sometimes, there’s no alternative but to go in. Testing needs to be done in person, and so do more complex treatments. If lifestyle management, medication, or even just monitoring are what you need, however, then telehealth can be an absolute game changer.
What’s important is that you know when to turn to telehealth and when to go in. If you’re unsure of when to turn to telehealth first, don’t worry, as this guide will help you understand when to turn to telehealth for your care and how to take full advantage of its capabilities:
When Would a Telehealth Appointment Be Better Than a Physical One
Telehealth appointments should be your first step unless it’s an emergency. Booking a telehealth appointment first means being able to get advice for the most common concerns you may face in a day-to-day environment. It’s also how you can get prescriptions for things like the flu or UTIs. The fact is, anything more serious would require a second visit, regardless. If you have health concerns that aren’t easy to deduce and physically go to a doctor’s office, you will still need to book a second appointment somewhere else to get tests done. This means if there are more pressing concerns, you can get that referral during your telehealth appointment.
In short, attending an online appointment first saves you time and, in many cases, money. You can get the advice or prescription you need digitally without going to the doctor’s office, or you can get a referral.
When Would a Physical Appointment Be Better than a Telehealth One?
Any time tests or procedures need to be completed, you will therefore need to be there in person. If it’s an emergency, you will still want to go either to an emergency clinic or the hospital. However, if you would like advice beforehand, you can absolutely call. There are advice helplines so that you know where to go to get the help that you need.
How to Take Full Advantage of Telehealth
Telehealth is great as a first step, but that’s just brushing the surface of what you can get out of telehealth. The fact is, there are many health conditions that would benefit from medical supervision. Going into the doctor’s office regularly for checkups, however, just clogs up the system, takes too much time, and can be costly. By getting those checkups done online and using monitoring devices at home, you can stay on top of your health and maintain as much independence as possible. Telehealth and remote monitoring are going to play a crucial role in the future and be key players in keeping the elderly as independent as they can be throughout their golden years. You can also rely on such telehealth services if you’re starting your weight loss journey or are living with a chronic condition.