Taking Advantage of Telehealth

Taking Advantage of Telehealth

Have you ever wondered about all the uses you employ with the Internet? Sure, it impacts how you stay in touch with family and friends, allows you to work from home purchase goods and services, and even search for information concerning your symptoms if you’re sick.

Did you know that telemedicine tools are available to help you manage your health care and receive the services you need from the comfort of your home or medical kiosk clinics available in select pharmacies? Are you taking advantage of them?

Consider, for example, the ways Telehealth or eCare could help you if you are suffering from an ailment but are told that your primary physician cannot accommodate an appointment time for you in the near future. With the burgeoning growth of Telehealth, the virtual online doctor is always ready to see you face to face from the comfort of your home, office, hotel room or Health Hub. Access is instant from whatever location you may find yourself.

Visit our Hub Locator to find Bonum Health Hubs available near you.

The goals of telehealth

Also called e-health or m-health (mobile health), include the following examples of eCare services that are beneficial for your health care:

Immediate face to face evaluation much like a walk-in clinic or Primary Care physician with no appointment necessary.
Instant electronic transmittal of prescriptions to the pharmacy of your choice.
Access to a multitude of medical specialists.
Improved communication and coordination of care among members of a health care team and a patient.
Provides support for self-management of health care.

Virtual instant appointments enable you to see your online doctor via video conferencing. These appointments permit you to receive immediate care from a virtual doctor when an in-person visit isn’t required or possible.

Other virtual appointments include web-based “visits” with an online doctor. These services are generally for minor illnesses, like the services available at a walk-in clinic or primary care physician office. The advent of Health Hubs provide access to virtual doctors’ offices as a part of their health care offerings, these Hubs are usually located within brick and mortar pharmacies.

When you log into a web-based service, you are guided through a series of questions. The doctor can prescribe medications, suggest home care strategies or recommend additional medical care.

Did you know? There’s an App for that.

Advances in technology, such as video chat and live-streaming apps are making it easier for people to keep in touch, no matter where they are. But what happens when we apply these technological advances to the very personal act of medical care?

With the near ubiquitous use of smartphones, doctors are able to check for a wide range of symptoms. For example, patients might be asked to hold their smartphone or tablet up to their eye or near their throat, so doctors can look for signs of an infection or illness.

You can share photos, test results and speak live with a doctor all via your smartphone, web browser or telephone from anywhere in the world 24/7, 365 days a year. There are different levels of plans available, it comes at a lower that average cost, of course, and doctors are able to write prescriptions and make referrals, depending on the level of care you choose.

So, when you are sick and consulting Dr. Google, remember there is a live doctor waiting to help and answer your healthcare needs, quicker and more certain than an internet search.