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Telehealth: Technology meets health care

WVBaker

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Telehealth is the use of digital information and communication technologies, such as computers and mobile devices, to access health care services remotely and manage your health care. These may be technologies you use from home or that your doctor uses to improve or support health care services.

https://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/consumer-health/in-depth/telehealth/art-20044878


Is this the future of health care? :ponder:

Meet George Jetson...
His boy, Elroy...
Daughter Judy...
Jane, his wife.
 

WVBaker

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For routine visits, this could be quite a cost and time saver for both the doctor and the patient alike. Even more so for the patient if the doctor passes along some of their overhead costs. As it stands now, and being very fortunate, we see our family physician twice a year. That being for review of blood tests, which could be easily handled in this manner. The blood tests would still require a visit to have the blood drawn and submitted. Other than that, it's just the routine, how are doing, any problems, any questions, etc.

For routine check-ups, I feel this is the way to do it.
 

Grammarhero

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Works for the most part. However, some things have to be done in person, like surgery, looking at wounds/veins, biopsies, etc.
 

isisdave

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A lot of this is worthwhile. Our doctors all have different ones, they apparently do not communicate with each other. Some are half-***ed; on one, you can request an appointment, but not actually make one, change or cancel it. Why wouldn't I do this on the phone? You know if it's done online it'll be a time that doesn't work.

You can pop in to an urgent care or Minute Clinic with sudden symptoms -- in fact, we have to do this, as our GP doesn't have appointments available in the next two weeks ever. They will upload that result to him.

But once a year, particularly as we get older, you really need an in person exam. Someone needs to listen to your heart, your carotid pulse, and your abdominal aorta. Maybe check for hernia. Definitely take a look at all of your skin. And ask if you want your flu shot in the left arm or the right.
 

easyrider

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It didn't work out for me. Our health insurance has a number to call to speak with a health professional. I called and was told I had likely pulled a muscle but if I thought it was more to go to the ER. I didn't think it was anything and waited too long. It turned out that it was muscle related. No pain heart attack.

For me going to the ER has been better than talking to someone. I have gone to the ER twice since the heart dealio because I had no pain with the heart attack and was told to go to the ER asap if anything odd happens. I don't bother calling the insurance person anymore. One ER visit they found a tumor was my problem and they were able to eventually remove it. The other time it was nothing.

Bill
 

TUGBrian

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actually just got a info-mail piece on this from blue cross just last week informing me that this option was now available to me as part of my insurance network.

sure beats having to go sit in a minute clinic or similar when sick for some antibiotics etc.
 
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As a (Florida) Medicare Health Insurance agent, I see more and more insurers do this. Some things it's good for, like medical questions or routine health issues (Cold, bacterial infections, Flu, injuries, etc). If your Primary Care Physician (PCP) is unavailable and you are sick, go to an urgent care center. The reason for those two is simple: an ER is very expensive, and if you're not in a life-or-death situation, stick with them. Basically, insurers don't want to pay thousands if doing tele-medicine/urgent care/PCP will save money.

It is all about how insurance works. Their job is to spread out costs. With millions of subscribers, everyone pays for your sickness.

TS
 

Free2Roam

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We used Teledoc years ago. Service was provided as a employee benefit... a healthcare supplement

Our 1st use was on a Saturday for a bout of poison ivy. 2nd was while on vacation... my daughter had a delayed reaction to a spider bite she got a couple days before a trip. Teledoc allowed us to video chat with a doc and have a prescription called in to a nearby pharmacy. Pretty quick and convenient.

The 1st couple years it was free to use (employer paid)... then it was free for the 1st few uses annually... then I believe there was a charge for each use, no freebies.

A couple years ago the job switched to MD Live... which always seemed like a gamble to me because it made me think of Maryland (MD) Live casino. Never needed to use that service, but I believe the fee was higher than it was for Teledoc. Although Teledoc's fee may have risen also.

So what started off as a free-to-me convenient service, became a pay-to-use convenient service with rising fees. Such is life.
 

Janann

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my daughter had a delayed reaction to a spider bite she got a couple days before a trip. Teledoc allowed us to video chat with a doc and have a prescription called in to a nearby pharmacy.

I've also used Teladoc for a weird bug bite. I sent a couple photos instead of a video chat. I felt like Teladoc was a great deal at $15 for the "office visit." The pictures and a description of the pain/discomfort was all that was needed. The doctor asked a few questions about numbness, fever, etc., all of which were not happening. She called in a prescription to the local pharmacy. I'm happy with their service.

For sinus infections or something similar, I prefer the local urgent care clinic. I have a tendency to have eye and ear issues along with a sinus infection, and usually need multiple prescriptions.

I think Teladoc and similar services are great for people who live in rural areas. Not all of us are lucky enough to be able to drive 15 minutes and be at an urgent care clinic.
 
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