We’re still in the midst of the COVID-19 crisis caused by the coronavirus, and for most people in Washington, D.C., these are uncertain feeling times. From job security concerns to worrying about the health and well-being of family members and friends, taking care of yourself can seem like a priority that falls onto the second or even third page of your list.
When you’re not feeling well or think you need to talk to your primary care physician, the last thing you want to do is find reasons not to get the care you need. While some things may be minor and can wait, others could require medical attention to avoid becoming problematic enough to cause you to seek help at crowded hospitals and emergency rooms. Making sure that you talk to a primary care doctor will help you determine what your best course of action is.
But how do you get an appointment with your primary doctor while you’re under stay at home orders issued due to COVID-19? After all, you want to be smart, safe, and protective of yourself and others during this pandemic. In today’s blog from Medics USA, we will talk about how you can use telemedicine to get the primary care you need without even needing to leave the house.
For more information about COVID-19, prevention measures, and what to do if you think you have been exposed, please read our March 16th release about COVID-19. You can also schedule a telemedicine appointment with Medics USA in Washington, D.C. today.
What Is Telemedicine?
Telemedicine is a phone call, virtual meeting, or other digital, out of office meeting between a patient and a doctor. Originally developed for use in providing medical care and information to remote areas, telemedicine has seen an increasingly common use for day to day primary care, connecting specialists from around the world, and allowing people to stay at home when they are not feeling well but still getting the care they need.
How Does Telemedicine Work?
Telemedicine is pretty straight forward, and more and more healthcare providers are using it to deliver fast, convenient, and effective services to their patients.
Telemedicine, just like any other primary care appointment, requires that you schedule an appointment ahead of time. On the day and time of your appointment, you either will receive a call from your physician or log in to an online platform for a video conference with them — different providers are set up in different ways.
Then, you’ll talk with your primary care doctor about what is wrong. Just like an in-person doctor’s appointment, you need to answer some questions and supply some data. Thankfully, many in-home devices easily allow for accurate temperature, blood pressure, and other vital readings that can be shared with your doctor.
You may need to upload and send images of an injury, rash, or other physical symptoms that a doctor cannot see over the phone, or in the case of a video conference, simply move the camera around to help them get a look at what is going on.
From there, your doctor can make a diagnosis and prescribe treatment, medicine, restrictions, and braces, etc. as needed.
Is Telemedicine As Effective As Seeing My Primary Care Doctor In-Person?
Telemedicine provides some incredible benefits, especially when it is used for conditions that can be treated without an in-person visit. Telemedicine services are highly effective for treating all of the following conditions you would contact your primary care physician about:
- Allergies
- Pain
- Asthma
- Bronchitis
- Cold and Flu
- Infections
- Diarrhea
- Insect Bites
- Conjunctivitis
- Rashes
- Sinusitis
- Respiratory Infections
- Skin irritations
- Cellulitis
- Sore Throats
- Bladder Infections
- UTIs
- Sprains
- Strains
- Sports-induced Injury
- Vomiting
- And more.
Best of all, in a public health crisis like what the United States is facing in COVID-19, telemedicine allows people just like you to get the quality health services they need without having to leave the house.
The only true drawback to telemedicine is that it isn’t available everywhere, and not all primary care providers can offer this service to their patients during such critical time. However, the nurses, doctors, and staff at Medics USA know that everyone has to step up right now, so we’re here to help with telemedicine services for our current and new patients.
Schedule Your Telemedicine Appointment With Medics USA Today
At times like these, taking care of yourself and your health is not only important for you, but it can also be important for those around you. If you’re not feeling well, then seeking out the expertise of your primary care doctor or a telemedicine health provider is important.
At Medics USA, we’re here to help you even when you’re not supposed to leave the house unless you absolutely must. Get in touch with us today and schedule your telemedicine appointment with our team.
If you’re a new patient, make sure that you fill out and submit your new patient paperwork once your appointment has been scheduled. Stay healthy and stay safe with help from Medics USA.
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