Although telemedicine has been around for years, it has gone from be a lesser-known healthcare option a lifeline for many people during the COVID-19 pandemic. Whether you wanted to do a virtual checkup with your doctor to ask about possible symptoms of COVID, or if your child somehow got pinkeye during closure and needed to see a doctor about it, telemedicine has become much more mainstream over the course of just a few months.
Who has access to telemedicine?
Unfortunately, virtual doctor visits require health insurance. But the good news is that, even if you have the most basic of Obamacare plans, most of them come with telehealth benefits. To find out what you’re entitled to with your plan, check your insurance provider’s website, or better yet, log into your health insurance account for details on your benefits. Here, they will inform the telemedicine provider they are affiliated with and how to schedule an appointment. You may need to complete the usual personal information forms again on the telehealth site, so it will take you a minute the first time you use the platform.
Once you’re signed in, you usually have the option to schedule a virtual appointment for the future or join an online waiting room to see the next available doctor. Waiting times can vary significantly. yesAck in April, I had two visits to the telehealth doctor. I was in the “virtual waiting room” for almost two hours the first time, but for my next visit at the end of the month, it was only a 10 minute wait.
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How to make the most of your virtual visit
Before signing up for a telehealth session with a doctor, physician assistant, or nurse practitioner, there are a few things you will want to prepare ahead of time. The doctor’s time is valuable, and yours too, this will help you make the most of it.
Configure the technology in advance
This may seem obvious, but it’s worth mentioning that even before logging in for a virtual tour, you need to make sure that any device you’re going to use is working properly. In addition to that, Dr. Sachin Nagrani, medical director of Heal (a telemedicine provider), recommends testing your camera and microphone on your phone, tablet, or computer in advance.
Find a good place
If there is a part of your home that has a better wifi signal than other parts, try to schedule your appointment there. Nagrani also suggests going somewhere with good lighting (not that you need to connect a ring light, but it helps if the doctor can really see it) and that’s quiet. And if you live with other people, you may want to find a private place for the virtual tour.
Take your temperature
If you are seeing a doctor about any type of flu, infection or virus, they will ask you if you have a temperature, Dr. Abe Malkin, founder and medical director of Concierge MD LA he says to Lifehacker. Take your thermometer and take your temperature before your visit, but also keep it on hand in case the doctor wants you to take it again during your visit. If you have and are using other home monitoring equipment such as a blood pressure reader or pulse oximeter, take your own vital signs before your virtual visit, Malkin advises.
Report any medications you have been taking
While in some cases, you can arrange virtual visits with your family doctor, if you are going through a service like the one provided by your health insurance, you are likely to get a doctor randomly (though qualified) by the other end. This means that they will not personally know your medical history, including the medications you are currently taking.
To prepare for this, make a list of all your prescription medications (including doses) before the virtual tour. Additionally, Malkin says it’s important to also mention any over-the-counter medications he’s been taking to treat himself. “These are very important in establishing the necessary treatment,” he adds.
Make a list of your symptoms.
This is something you should do for in-person appointments too, but you should definitely go to your telemedicine visit with a list of your symptoms, Nagrani tells Lifehacker. Don’t think you’re just going to remember them and be able to recite them: When you only have a few minutes with a busy doctor (during a pandemic), it can seem like a high-pressure situation.
In addition to making a list, Malkin says he should also be able to tell the doctor about the progression of his symptoms and how long they have lasted. Because the doctor cannot examine you in person, it is especially important to tell them what is going on with your body and why you are seeking their help in the first place.
Make a list of questions for the doctor.
In addition to listing your symptoms, also prepare a list of questions for the doctor before the virtual visit. Why are you calling? What do you want a medical professional to be involved in? Be as specific as possible to give the doctor as much information as possible.
Take notes during the appointment.
Have that pen and paper handy, because there is more to write. “Take notes on what the doctor advises you to be clear about and don’t forget after the call,” explains Nagrani. Even if you think you will remember the specific instructions and recommended dosages, write them down as a backup.
Not everything can be diagnosed and treated over the phone, so your doctor may recommend that you go to the office or even go to the emergency room in certain situations. (Also, if it is a real emergency, telemedicine is not your best option.) Doctors can prescribe medications after a virtual visit, if that’s something you need.
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