This post is featured on behalf of Jenna Brown.
When many of us have an ache or pain, or some other medical concern, we go online and check out our symptoms. According to doctors, this isn’t really an idea that is too bad, as long as you don’t take it too far.
It can actually be helpful at times – as is the case with new asthmatics being able to learn how to properly use their inhalers by watching demonstrations on YouTube. The thing is, it could quite easily lead to people self-diagnosing themselves with something utterly horrible that they just don’t have.
But what you might not realize is that it is possible to get an online doctor who can help you right away. The doctors at this website allow you to make appointments that are on your schedule. They will then contact you by phone to diagnose and treat you and prescribe any medication if necessary. Then, all you have to do is go down to your local pharmacy to pick up your medications and take them as prescribed. You can even get lab tests ordered without even speaking to a doctor. If you have insurance, all you have to pay is your copay.
Of course, this doesn’t negate the need for you to have a primary care physician for your routine, yearly checkups. There are other healthcare appointments that you will need to see your local physicians for too… such as eye exams, dental work, and the gynecologist.
So, why should you see an online doctor?
1. Convenience
With an online doctor, you will have convenience. This is one of the biggest benefits. You will not need to go anywhere or spend money on gas or transportation. You don’t need to waste time sitting in a waiting room waiting for your appointment. You won’t even need to take any time off from work to go to your appointment. You will be able to speak with a doctor right from your office or from the comfort of your own home.
Many providers of telemedicine will make it incredibly easy to use their systems. All you need to do is register with them and choose a doctor from their providers. Then you can talk to them via an app on your smartphone, your phone itself, or online. This is especially good for those who live in rural areas and have to travel great distances to go to the doctor.
2. Virtual Waiting Room vs. Physical Waiting Room
Think about the last time you went to the doctor. Do you like sitting out in the waiting room? Aside from the tedium of having to wait, it can be problematic when you are sick to have to sit among a bunch of other sick people, sharing germs. This is especially true for those who have weakened immune systems and the elderly.
Some online doctors now have virtual waiting rooms. Old magazines have been replaced with animations that are health related. There are no other people there sharing their germs with you. These waiting rooms might also have online materials that can be accessed that are designed to both educate and entertain patients regarding health risks.
3. Increased Engagement
Some online doctors will use video conferencing. This allows for more than just the doctor and the patient being able to see each other. There are platforms that will allow for the doctor to share things from the patient’s chart with the patient. He can make notes in it by using a virtual pen during their conversation. This allows for the doctor to be able to share quite specific visuals with the patient.
4. More Focused Attention
When you go into a doctor’s office for a visit, how often has the doctor been writing or typing while you talk to them? How often have you felt like they weren’t really paying too much attention to you? When it comes to virtual visits, as opposed to people missing the personal touch, they seem to actually feel even more connected than when in a physical doctor’s office. The doctors seem to be more able to focus on the patient and what they are saying when they don’t have their faces stuck in charts and tablets, and the patients definitely notice the added attention.
Seeing a doctor online is a convenient option that has many benefits for everyday healthcare needs.