When you need medical care, sometimes it’s easier if you don’t have to leave your home. Learn more about the benefits of telemedicine.
Telehealth is one of the biggest innovations to come to the medical field in many years. You can get the same high-quality of one on one, personalized health care from your provider that you would in their office.
Maybe you are new to telehealth and are not sure what it includes. Dr. Daniel Rieders at Peninsula Integrative Medicine in San Ramon, California, explains more about the benefits of telehealth and what you can expect from your visit.
What is telehealth?
Telemedicine, or telehealth, is delivered by video conference with you and the provider contacting each other in real-time, just as if you were face-to-face.
You get their full, undivided attention as if you were in the office. This type of visit isn’t suitable for conditions where they need to examine you physically, but it is perfect for follow-up visits or even to look at a rash.
The benefits of telemedicine
Telemedicine is the perfect solution for people whose lives are so busy or complicated that they may find it difficult to come into the office for a visit.
Some telehealth benefits include the following:
- No need to worry about commuting or taking time off work for a visit
- No need to find childcare
- Better assessment due to more thorough consultations
- We share your results with other health care providers
- We take your weight or other measurements (such as blood pressure) via a monitor you wear that we can track remotely
- It’s a solution for those with mobility limitations
You can still get the care you need with a lot less hassle.
The widespread adoption of telemedicine
More people than ever are choosing to use telehealth to meet with their doctors. The adoption of this technology took off during the Covid-19 pandemic, which meant that you could still seek medical care without risking exposure to disease and illness. Of course, Covid-19 is still around, which many people are choosing to avoid.
Currently, 76% of hospitals in the US allow some form of telehealth communication between doctors and patients, up from only 35% a decade ago.
More people are willing to consider telemedicine. One in four Americans said that they have either experienced or are willing to consider having a virtual visit with their health care provider.
Telemedicine removes the barriers many people feel about seeking help, including making it easier to discuss what you want from the privacy of your own home.
Conditions we can not measure with telehealth
Of course, telemedicine has its limitations. Video can’t detect some conditions which require a more physical, hands-on approach.
It tends to be less expensive than in-person visits, but this is not always the case. Be sure to check with your insurance provider to find out about any cost differences.
If you think your condition can be managed by telemedicine, it’s always a good idea to ask. At our practice, we don’t want you to feel any obstacles to getting help. Contact Dr. Rieders at Peninsula Integrative Medicine or request an appointment online for a consultation.