You Don’t Always Have to See the Doctor at the Office. Here’s When Telehealth is the Better Choice

Making the time to go to the doctor when you don’t feel well —or even to follow up on previously treated issues — can seem like a hassle. Especially at this time of year, when we’re all busier than usual, it can be tempting to put your health on the back burner.

Failing to attend to your health increases your risks of something going wrong, and it’s usually an easily solved issue. Dr. Daniel Rieders of Peninsula Integrative Cardiology offers telehealth services, eliminating several concerns with making an in-office visit. Learn more about when telehealth is the better choice for handling your concerns that need a doctor’s care.

What is telehealth?

Telehealth is a combination of technology and medicine. It uses video conferencing software, similar to Zoom® or FaceTime®, to allow you to “virtually” meet with the doctor.

You still have his full attention to your issues during these visits. Time is blocked out for your visits, so you shouldn’t expect frequent interruptions. In almost every way, it’s similar to being seen in the office.

Telehealth has a long history of use, but it has increased since the pandemic. It’s one of the positive changes brought by the pandemic.

The advantages of telehealth

Telehealth has many advantages for its use, particularly in terms of convenience. Some of the top benefits of telehealth include:

You can do it from anywhere

While going to the doctor’s office can be hard taking time out of your day, telehealth offers freedom of location. You can do it anywhere with an internet connection, a laptop, or a phone.

You do not have to worry about other schedules

Many of us have other activities that occupy our days, and we can’t easily cancel them to go to the doctor. Maybe you have a busy job, or commuting to our office would take too long, or perhaps you’re caring for a young child. When you schedule a telehealth visit, you only need to block off the time for seeing the doctor.

It is often cheaper

In these days of rising health care costs, we all look to save money where we can. Telehealth is often more affordable than in-office visits, which can benefit people with high-deductible plans or self-pay patients.

It works well for check-ins

If you have a chronic condition like diabetes or depression, you may need to see the doctor more regularly. You may be keeping records related to managing your diabetes, for example, and you can send these records to the doctor for his review. These types of visits often don’t need to be done in person.

When telehealth is not a good option

While telehealth is beneficial, it’s not ideal for every situation. Some circumstances require a doctor to visually monitor your health and assess a part of your body. 

The doctor can’t touch you in telehealth visits, so it’s not a good solution for cases where you need hands-on care. Similarly, other treatments require in-person visits, such as ketamine therapy.

When you call to make an appointment, we tell you  whether or not your visit can be by telehealth.

If you need to be seen by the doctor soon and have wondered how to fit it into your schedule, consider the option of telehealth. Contact Dr. Daniel Rieders at Peninsula Integrative Cardiology today or request an appointment online.