Taking a look at some of the top tips and strategies for navigations today’s online medical services. How to find the information and care you need on the web.
There were 883 million visits to the doctor in 2018.
That number is going to grow as the population gets older, placing more pressure on doctors to provide care in a short amount of time.
Fortunately, technology has been able to help doctors and patients alike. Online medical services are starting to become the norm.
Insurance companies are even jumping on board, encouraging members to use these services instead of showing up at the hospital or doctor’s office.
There are still a lot of questions about these types of services. Read on to learn everything you need to know about providing online medical services and how you can get started.
What Are Online Medical Services?
Online medical services have a number of different names—telehealth, virtual care, telemedicine, and online medicine.
They all mean the same thing—seeing a doctor over the phone or video chat. This method of providing medical services has actually been around for years.
You may remember seeing movies with doctors making personal house calls to patients. That was the way medicine was practiced. Many patients lived in very remote areas, making it difficult for doctors to reach them.
The only way a patient could be seen was over the phone. Today, online medical services are used to treat patients of any age.
You simply use video technologies like Skype to work with patients, making it much easier.
Pros and Cons of Online Medical Services
It’s normal to have a lot of questions and skepticism around online medical services. As with anything, there are pros and cons to using these services.
Patient Convenience
For patients, online medicine offers the best convenience. They can see doctors when it’s convenient for them and see them anywhere.
Most doctors are available during regular office hours, but you can also make yourself available for patients all hours of the day while you are getting sleep. This website https://24x7doctorsansweringservice.com/ shows you how you can do that.
Pro: Peace of Mind
Patients are able to connect and contact a medical provider anytime they want.
For many patients, they can handle chronic conditions better. They also know that their regular doctor is a phone call away, so they can rest easy.
Pro: Easier-To-Coordinate Care
In many cases, people depend on someone taking them to the doctor’s office. Patients may have a difficult time scheduling an appointment and coordinate these rides.
An online visit can take that obstacle out of the way for patients, allowing them to get the care that they need.
Pro: Better Results for Patients
Do you have patients who are managing chronic conditions? Online medicine has been shown to increase patient adherence to treatment plans.
Patients check in more often with their doctors, get questions answered, and stick to treatments. That turns into better patient outcomes.
Con: Limited Physical Exam
One drawback of online medical services is that you’re not able to physically examine a patient.
You have to rely on the health history of the patients to provide the best care.
Common Questions About Online Medical Services
There are several questions that doctors have about providing online medical services. Here are the most common.
How Does It Work?
The specifics of how patients find you and schedule appointments will depend on the platform that you use. In general terms, a patient can book an appointment online through your website.
They may book directly through their insurance company, which will connect with you.
The patient needs to be sent information about how to connect and use the services. For many patients, it’s their first time using these services and they need to know what to expect.
An alternative is that a patient can call your office directly and connect with an answering service. The answering service can take some general and forward messages to you or schedule appointments for patients.
You’ll run the appointment just like a normal, in-person visit. You’ll ask the same questions, review symptoms, diagnose, and provide a treatment plan.
One common misconception about online care is that it’s meant to replace doctors’ visits. It’s not meant to replace but complement existing treatment plans. There will be times when it’s best to see patients and give them a physical examination.
Does Insurance Pay for It?
Many insurance companies are covering virtual appointments. Insurance companies are starting to see the advantages of this method of care.
They see that it’s cost-effective, convenient, and can provide better results for patients. Of course, each insurance company is going to have its own policy about online medical services. It’s best to check with each insurance company you work with to learn more.
What Kind of Technologies Are Required?
It depends on the platform that you use to provide these appointments. There are insurance providers that provide online medical services
For older patients that may not be technologically savvy, you may be surprised to learn that they can pick up the technology easily. It’s like using FaceTime to visit the grandkids.
How Are Prescriptions Handled?
Can online doctors write prescriptions?
Yes, they can. Just like with in-person visits, doctors will be able to write a prescription and send it to the patient’s pharmacy.
Online Medical Services Are Changing Healthcare
You got into medicine to help people feel better and help them live longer with a higher quality of life. Doctors often find that it’s not possible to do that because of the time and resources it takes to provide quality health care.
Patients also find it hard at times to make it into your office. Online medical services allow patients to get the care that they need. Doctors also find it easier to provide quality care around the clock. Check out this site again for more great articles.
