Connect with Effective Telehealth
Telehealth has been around for years, but you can be forgiven if you thought it only came into being recently. As COVID-19 moved across the nation, healthcare providers encouraged more patients who did not need face-to-face visits to schedule appointments via video feed.
Obviously, such visits should not be used in the case of an emergency, and plenty of conditions or concerns require time in the same room as a care provider. But lots of visits with your doc can be conducted by video or even a simple phone call, with the added benefits of not having to venture out when you’re feeling bad, not having to be around sick people in a waiting room, and more.
But there’s more to a good telehealth visit than simply turning on your computer and signing on. With a few simple steps, you can make the most out of your remote caregiver appointment.
Get connected. A good visit requires a good connection. For video visits, make sure you have a good internet signal, a quiet, private place for the conversation and a well-lit area. For phone calls, make sure you have a good signal and your phone battery is charged.
Prepare. Make a list of items you want to discuss with the caregiver. If you write things down, you’ll be more efficient and reduce the risk that you’ll forget to mention something.
Take notes. As you talk with the caregiver, take notes so you can be sure to remember what you’ve discussed.
Know what’s next. Before you disconnect, make sure you know what action you need to take or what the caregiver is going to do for you. Will prescriptions be called into your pharmacy? Don’t hesitate to ask for clarification.
Get it in writing. Often, a caregiver will follow up a telehealth visit by emailing or posting on a patient portal a summary of the visit, instructions for care and more. If that’s not the usual practice, ask if it can be done.
Check your coverage. Most employer-sponsored health benefit plans cover telehealth at some level, but coverage policies and practices vary from company to company, so you should check your coverage before your telehealth visit.
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Tags: communication, COVID-19, telehealth