As lifestyles evolve and become ever-busier, it can be hard to find the time to take care of your physical and mental health. Often, the burden of a hectic schedule prevents many adults from both regular check-ups and important specialty care.
However, this does not need to be the final answer. Telemedicine, which is a virtual healthcare service that includes live audio and video conferencing with doctors and healthcare professionals, is becoming increasingly popular. This allows you to contact a provider nearly on-demand, with most wait times lasting under 15 minutes. No advanced scheduling is needed, although in many cases, you can book annual visits with a doctor if you like his or her expertise and personality. Here are a few examples of how telemedicine is benefitting patients and how your insurance provider can help you access this high-quality service.
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It’s fast.
Have you ever arrived at a doctor’s office on time, only to check in and find that it will be a 45-minute wait? With telemedicine, you will wait less time to see a doctor than you would in a traditional office because you are being matched with a wider range of available professionals. There is also no risk of the doctor running behind schedule, as the time is set by you and not the doctor. Most visits are also shorter too, without the need for paperwork, vitals, and blood work. A study by Harvard Medical School found that the average traditional doctor’s office visit took 121 minutes and cost about $43 of your own personal time and resources, compared to a telehealth visit that took 15 minutes and cost about $5 of your personal time and resources. Within those 121 minutes, only 20 were spent face-to-face with the doctor.
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It’s helpful.
Telemedicine doctors can consult with a patient on virtually any non-emergency health concern. This includes anything from the flu or seasonal allergies to a rash or conjunctivitis. By eliminating the frustration of scheduling an appointment or waiting for a long time to speak with a doctor, you can receive helpful medical advice and even prescriptions right over the phone. Telemedicine is also an excellent option for seniors who may not drive as frequently, and even young people who may travel often or attend college in another state. Because the provider can see you regardless of your location, telemedicine can be extremely convenient.
Some telemedicine providers even offer mental health counseling, which can be beneficial if you need someone to talk to but feel more comfortable doing so within your own home. Speak with your insurance agent to determine if mental health teletherapy is available through your telemedicine provider.
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It’s cost-effective.
Many major insurance providers already offer telemedicine as a benefit. There might be a co-pay, but these can be lower than the cost at some doctor’s offices. Other providers might offer telehealth as an “add-on,” meaning that you will pay an additional monthly premium, but you could potentially access the service without a co-pay. In the previously mentioned Harvard Medical School study, it was noted that telemedicine is more cost-effective for your personal time. For out-of-pocket costs, telemedicine is also about $125 less expensive per visit compared to a traditional office appointment, according to a study conducted by Red Quill Consulting Inc. in 2014.
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It’s secure.
While any data transferred via the internet is at potential risk of hacking, telemedicine software systems almost always have extremely high-security measures in place to prevent a breach. This will allow the software provider to be HIPPA-compliant, which means that personal health information (PHI) and patient care details are safeguarded and encrypted. HIPPA-compliant services are becoming the new standard, and as more patients come to expect this level of protection, it is likely that telemedicine will change the way we approach general healthcare. Check with your insurance agent to determine if the software available to you offers encryption.
An added layer of security is physical security. In a traditional doctor’s office, your concerns may be accidentally overheard by those in the waiting room, or your chart could be unintentionally left open behind the reception desk. Even though these incidents are not done maliciously, your PHI could be compromised. Through telemedicine, you are at a much lower risk of anyone outside your household overhearing a conversation or having access to your PHI.