There’s no question that telemedicine – also known as telehealth – is revolutionizing the medical industry by providing remote healthcare delivery services to those unable or reluctant to visit their doctor in person.
However, it has become especially critical during the COVID-19 pandemic by ensuring safe, uninterrupted care for millions of Americans with acute and chronic conditions.
Here is a closer look at this beneficial use of modern medical technology.
What is Telemedicine?
Telemedicine is an alternative form of healthcare delivery in which your doctor uses the latest technology to provide you with the medical care you need without your having to travel to his/her office.
During a tele-visit, you and your doctor discuss your health via a computer, tablet, smartphone, or another device. Despite not meeting in person, your doctor is able to check on your condition, diagnose a variety of problems, and create a treatment plan for you.
In terms of cutting-edge technology, telemedicine is offering innovative ways to deliver timely healthcare, including:
- Real-time, audio-video communication tools that link physicians with their patients in different locations.
- Store-and-forward technology that collects medically related images and data for transmission and interpretation at a later date.
- Remote patient monitoring tools that may include blood pressure monitors, Bluetooth-enabled digital scales, and other wearable devices that serve to communicate biometric data for prompt review.
- Verbal/audio-only and virtual check-ins via patient portals and messaging technologies.
Benefits of Telemedicine in the Age of COVID
There are numerous reasons why you may choose telemedicine to interact with your primary care physician (PCP) before, during, and after the COVID-19 health crisis.
For one thing, telemedicine allows you to consult with your doctor in the safety and security of your own home, office, or other location. This enables you to maintain social distancing and reduce your exposure to COVID-19 or any other virus. If you are infected with COVID-19 or are exhibiting symptoms, telemedicine allows you to remain in quarantine and “meet” with your doctor online rather than risking infecting others.
Telemedicine is also a convenient means of receiving the care you need without having to travel to your doctor’s office or clinic or needing to be accompanied by a caregiver. This is especially accommodating for patients who live in remote areas.
As an added bonus, telemedicine saves you time and money you would otherwise spend in transit or waiting for service. You don’t have to take time off from your job or other activities going to and coming from your doctor’s location. You simply schedule a meeting with your doctor and show up online at your appointed time. Plus, you needn’t pay for gas, parking, or mass transit.
Of course, tele-visits are not intended for emergency situations, nor are they recommended for anything that requires in-person, hands-on medical care. However, they are highly practical for routine consultations, simple medical issues, and follow-ups with your primary care doctor.
Concierge Telemedicine in North Bethesda, Maryland
The use of telemedicine by concierge doctors is particularly valuable because it allows them to spend more quality time with their patients. Ordinarily, many insurance-based primary care doctors in North Bethesda, Maryland, and surrounding communities have so many patients in their practice that they can only devote 10-15 minutes at a time to each patient.
At North Bethesda Primary Care, we don’t charge insurance. Rather, our patients pay an annual membership fee, which includes unlimited visits, round-the-clock access for urgent medical issues, appointments – either in person or online – at your convenience and much more. By limiting our practice size, we have the flexibility to spend more time getting to know our patients and addressing their specific concerns.
As a board-certified primary care provider / internal medicine doctor, Dr. Adam Possner diagnoses and treats a broad range of acute and chronic medical conditions, as well as specializes in preventive care.
To learn more about our practice and how it can provide you with second-to-none primary care, contact North Bethesda Primary Care today to schedule a complimentary meeting with Dr. Possner.
