How Do Telehealth Appointments Work?

When the world is hit by a pandemic and thus, physical health check-up has become a herculean task. Therefore, booking a doctor online appointment is the need of the hour which is sophistically termed as Telemedicine.

What Is Telehealth?

Telehealth basically implies scheduling and talking to a doctor who may or may not be miles away, from the comfort of your home on a device like a mobile phone or computer.  

Thus, Telehealth is a broader term, inclusive of Telemedicine, allowing a patient to communicate with a healthcare provider using online communication tools, avoiding the need for a physical check-up.
The nexus of healthcare and technology is not new, however, utilising it to overcome geographical or commutation problems, time constraints or restrictions put due to the pandemic while booking a doctor online appointment is a novel use of the technology.

Need And Benefits Of Telemedicine

To make healthcare services accessible, affordable and time-saving while maintaining social-distancing norms, Telemedicine acts as an effective tool. However, it is not useful for emergency situations and is beneficial only for simple health issues and follow-up consultations.

Telemedicine Appointments In A Nutshell

Telemedicine appointments work just like regular appointments; however, the mode of communication can be phone calls, emails, or web-conferencing, after booking a doctor online appointment on the web-portal of the healthcare provider. 

In a telemedicine appointment, the patient is advised to:
1.    Prepare a list of issues faced by him as he might lose track of some while using virtual means.
2.    Keep track of new symptoms whether aggravating or alleviating for follow-up consultations.
3.    Take photos of obvious symptoms for further diagnosis.
4.    Choose a quiet place for the appointment and maintain punctuality.
5.    Ensure timely fee payments through online modes. 

Conclusion

Although Telemedicine cannot cater to medical exigencies, it acts as a panacea to overcome the problem of accessibility. It helps in connecting the doctor and patient even in these trying times of Covid-19.