WHEN SHOULD YOU USE AN ONLINE DOCTOR?

Using An Online Doctor: When, Where & Why?

Online medicine is a somewhat new trend and many don’t yet realize the extent of the services online doctors are able to offer. In this article, we will discuss how seeing an online doctor works, the conditions they are able to treat, the conditions they are not able to treat, and the specific instances where an online doctors’ visit is more advantageous—both in terms of cost and convenience—than a traditional in-person visit.

In-person doctors’ visits are no longer the only option. With modern telehealth technology, online doctors’ visits can provide affordable, quality healthcare, without the inconveniences of in-person appointments, to anyone in the United States with an Internet or phone connection.

What are Online Doctors?

Online doctors allow you to receive quality medical treatment 24/7, 365 days a year in the comfort of your own home. They are an excellent option for supplementing your primary health care services and can be used for non-emergency medical issues; as well as for follow ups, second opinions, and evaluations of whether or not an in-person visit is required.

How Do Online Doctors’ Visits Work?

The signup process is easy and you can see a U.S. Board Certified doctor within minutes of completion. There are numerous options for conducting your online visit. You can use the smartphone app on both Android and iOS phones, connect via the website portal on your personal computer, connect via tablet, or call by phone.

Your confidentiality, as well the protection of your privacy and medical information, is of the utmost importance. All services provided are done in accordance with HIPAA privacy rules, the same regulation standards traditional doctors are held to.

Prices are incredibly affordable compared to traditional office visits. Once you are a member, you can visit an online doctor with no additional costs or fees.

What Can an Online Doctor Treat?

If you aren’t familiar with telehealth services, you might be surprised at the number of conditions online doctors can treat. Services are available for both the diagnosis and treatment of many non-emergency medical and behavioral health conditions.

Medical Health Treatment Options

If you are suffering from any of the below ailments, contacting your online telehealth doctor is suggested. Doing so will allow you to save both time and money, while receiving high quality treatment.

Behavioral Health / Psychological Treatment

Behavioral health services are also available and provide access to in-state licensed therapists. Studies have shown that online counseling services can be extremely effective. Online behavioral health professionals can treat conditions including:

Using an Online Doctor for Prescriptions

If your doctor feels a prescription is required, an e-prescription can be sent directly to your local pharmacy and picked up at your convenience. The process is simple and works in much the same way as a prescription called in from your primary healthcare provider.

In accordance with state pharmacology laws, there are a few situations where prescriptions cannot be written. Prescriptions for certain drugs, including DEA controlled substances and drugs which are at high risk of abuse, cannot be written by telehealth doctors and must be written by your primary health care provider. In addition, existing prescriptions are required for temporary (2-3 day) prescriptions to be written. Also, prescriptions may only be written for a 30 day supply; patients who require longer supplies should visit their primary care provider.

Learn more about our prescription discount program

What Can’t an Online Doctor Treat?

Telehealth services are for non-emergency treatment only. If you are experiencing a medical emergency, call 911 immediately. Also, if you experience symptoms that are potentially life threating, such as chest pain or loss of consciousness, call 911 or go to the ER immediately.

In addition, injuries which require in-person treatment—including broken bones, sprains, burns, lacerations, and conditions requiring x-rays—cannot be treated by your doctor online. There are also medications which require in-person examinations in order to be prescribed. If you require such medications, visit your primary care provider.

When Should You See an Online Doctor?

You should see an online doctor anytime you require treatment for non-emergency medical or behavioral health conditions. While online doctors are not meant to replace your primary care provider, urgent care provider, or the emergency room; many non-life threatening conditions can be treated online—and in many cases, an online visit can replace an in-person visit. If seeing your primary care provider is required—your online doctor will tell you—saving you both time and money when a visit is not required.

Online visits are perfect for anytime you need to see a doctor but don’t have time to make an appointment. Maybe your work schedule makes it difficult to take an afternoon off, or you don’t want to pull your kids out of school. With an online doctor’s visit, you choose a time that is convenient for you, with no appointment necessary.

Online Visits Vs. In-Person Visits

While technology has made incredible leaps, there are still differences between an in-person and online visit. An online consultation over a smartphone or computer may feel less intimate and personal than an in-person visit, at least at first.

Remember that since your doctor cannot physically examine you, you will need to provide as much information as possible. Also, certain nonverbal cues and gestures may not come across as easily to your doctor via a video chat; so make sure to explain in detail the symptoms you are experiencing. This will help your doctor make an accurate diagnosis and get you on the road to recovery fast.

Another important difference is that when you see your primary or urgent care provider in person, you may be forced to wait in a waiting room full of sick people. You might go in with allergies, for example, and come out with a cold you caught from another patient. In addition to the convenience and reduced costs of online doctors’ visits, avoiding other sick people is another important benefit.

Conclusion – Use an Online Doctor Today!

Online doctors’ visits are an easy, convenient, and affordable supplement to your primary healthcare provider. For a low rate you can have access to a doctor 24/7, 365 days a year. If you would like to sign up for this service CLICK HERE. The signup process is easy and after completion, you can see a doctor within minutes.