How to talk to a doctor online

During the coronavirus pandemic, you can still visit your doctor for essential health care. But if you want to avoid crowded waiting rooms, the easiest way is to chat with a doctor online.

It’s late at night and you’re coming down with something: itchy throat, watery eyes, pounding head, aching stomach. Do you push through the pain until morning, when you can see your primary care physician, or rush to the emergency room where you might end up with a hefty bill ? And in times of crisis like the coronavirus pandemic , do you risk contagion by sitting in a waiting room to see your nurse practitioner or doctor for an in-person medical care appointment?

In either scenario — or any other situation where you might not want to or can’t travel to a doctor’s office — you can pick up your phone and, in a matter of a few taps, explain your symptoms to an online doctor who can immediately advise you on the best course of treatment through a virtual visit using a telehealth app.

That’s thanks to the rise of telemedicine , an umbrella term that covers all the ways you can receive medical care via text, online chat, phone, video and yes, even apps. Online doctors can diagnose and treat a range of medical conditions, including allergies , cold and flu , fevers , asthma, ear infections, UTIs and so much more through an online doctor consultation. And, depending on the particular virtual care you receive, you can use your regular health insurance.

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You shouldn’t use a telemedicine service as a permanent replacement for your primary care doctor (with the exception of the hybrid models mentioned at the end of this article), but connecting with a good doctor via telemedicine can definitely prove helpful when you’re on your third box of tissues and the contents of your medicine cabinet aren’t helping.

You also shouldn’t use telehealth services when you experience a true emergency, like trouble breathing, or you sustain an injury that needs immediate attention, like a broken bone (that would be a little tricky to diagnose accurately and treat effectively via video). All that said, here are 10 ways to talk to a doctor online.

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The experience was very smooth and obvious the convenience is nice, especially since I dont have to take my lil doll face every time to the docs office AWESOMMME. But I also feel that I can be more open, drop my guard and trust the advice that I’m getting.

Learn these tips before your next appointment

by Amy Paturel, AARP Bulletin, Jan./Feb. 2017 | Comments: 0

Be prepared for your next doctor’s visit with these helpful tips.

En español | If you’ve ever felt like your doctor isn’t listening to you, it may be true. Studies have found that doctors let patients speak for only 23 seconds on average before cutting them off; in one University of South Carolina study, primary care patients were interrupted just 12 seconds after the physician entered the exam room.

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When there’s less doctor-patient dialogue, patients are not only more likely to leave the office frustrated, but they’re also at greater risk of being misdiagnosed. Want to make up for the time crunch? Try these strategies to maximize your office visit and talk so your doctor will listen.

Make a human connection

Before you dive into your concerns, break the ice with a greeting or even a joke. “Doctors are people first, and we’re much more receptive when a patient begins a conversation with a simple, ‘How’s your day going?’ ” explains Katie Neuendorf, M.D., medical director for the Center of Excellence in Health Care Communication at the Cleveland Clinic.

Stay on message

Most doctor visits last 13 to 16 minutes, according to Medscape’s 2016 “Physician Compensation Report,” so after your greeting, get to the point. “Oversharing information unrelated to your medical concerns takes time away from tailoring a treatment plan,” Neuendorf says.

Tell the whole truth

You can’t expect a doctor to listen to your complaints, or adequately resolve them, if you’re not forthright. Tell your doctor about your fear of falling, substance abuse, sexual dysfunction or changes in sleep patterns.

Rehearse before you go

If you’re uncomfortable discussing embarrassing topics, write a script and rehearse it in front of a mirror. Use words like incontinent, bowel movements and diarrhea so that when you’re talking to the doctor, you’ll be more comfortable saying them aloud.

Don’t accept ‘it’s just aging’

If you have a symptom that has come on suddenly, keeps you up at night or interferes with your daily life, be specific about the changes you’ve noticed. “For example, you could say, ‘I’ve always been on time for appointments, but lately I’m forgetting them entirely. Is there a test you can do to rule out a more serious cognitive issue?’ ” says Mary Jane Minkin, M.D., clinical professor in the Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Sciences at Yale Medical School.

Don’t save questions for the end

Once your doctor is halfway out the door, he or she is already thinking about the next patient. Instead, come with a list of concerns and address them within the first few minutes of your visit, Minkin suggests.

Explain what you can afford

Most doctors don’t have a clue about patients’ out-of-pocket costs. Some aren’t even sure which procedures, prescriptions and lab tests are covered by insurance or Medicare. “But that doesn’t mean they’re not willing to work with you to lower costs,” Neuendorf says. If you can’t afford a prescription, ask your doctor for an alternative, or ask him or her to help you prioritize your medications, so you know which ones you can skip and which ones are nonnegotiable.

COVID-19 has prompted many doctors to cancel in-office visits and set up telemedicine, or exams conducted by phone or video chat. Here’s what to expect during your first remote appointment.

With COVID-19 diverting medical resources and making in-person doctor visits a risk for patients and physicians alike, many healthcare providers are turning to telemedicine.

Medical practices, urgent care centers, and hospitals are overwhelmed and will only be more so in the coming weeks. Telemedicine lets doctors evaluate, diagnose, and treat patients through a visit conducted via video or on the phone, whether it’s for a well visit, a follow-up, or even an evaluation for COVID-19. This form of care could be new to both you and your physician and knowing what to expect and what to have on hand could make the transition smoother and help you get the most out of your visit.

How to Schedule

Telemedicine visits can be conducted over video or on the phone. To schedule a visit, call your physician’s office and see what options are available. Small offices and large health systems alike are rapidly moving to telemedicine right now.

For those who do not have a health care provider or have one who is not available for telemedicine, Doctor on Demand is another way to have a physician visit without going into a healthcare facility. The online service is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Visits are conducted using video through a browser or an app (iOS, Android) on phones and tablets.

Types of Visits

If you have a smartphone or computer on which you can have a video visit, you and your physician will get more out of it. “It’s more of an interaction,” says Dr. Daniel Kellner, a Yale Medicine urologist. “You can see the person. It’s actually like they’re coming to the office.”

That said, it is still possible to meet with a doctor by phone. “There are physicians who are just doing telephone visits so if patients don’t have the capability for video they shouldn’t worry,” says Dr. Julie Yip, rheumatologist at New Haven Rheumatology and clinical instructor at Yale School of Medicine.

Payment and Insurance

Insurance coverage for telemedicine varies by state but with the current pandemic, many providers have amended their policies and in some cases have even waived co-pays. It is advisable to call your provider before your visit to see what will be covered.

Doctor on Demand accepts insurance; without insurance, a medical visit is $75.

What to Have With You

During the visit, the physician will ask you to describe symptoms, tell them about any allergies, and ask about medications and dosages, so be sure to have all of that information at the ready as well as the contact information for your pharmacy. Dr. Kellner advises that if there is any relevant information or data that exists outside the purview of the provider, it should be shared with them. If you don’t have access to it, communicate that to your physician so they can assist in tracking it down.

When speaking to a physician who you regularly see or who is part of the same health system, they will have your chart with them for the visit. “During their encounter, we have access to all their records—we can look at their labs and their imaging and the notes from other providers in the system,” Dr. Kellner says.

Electrocardiogram reading on the Apple Watch

If you have home medical equipment, it is useful to have it accessible during the visit. “Depending on what their visit is for, they can have a blood-pressure cuff handy, a pulse oximeter to check heart rate or their oxygen saturation level, and a thermometer” Dr. Yip says. For a more thorough exam, you may also want to purchase a remote exam kit that has a stethoscope, otoscope, and basal thermometer that can send information to your physician. If cardiac issues are a concern, EKGs can be done through a small personal monitor or an Apple Watch (Series 4 or 5).

Dr. Yip also recommends earbuds or headphones for a clear audio connection and to try to be as close as possible to the source of your Wi-Fi.

What You Can Expect During Your Visit

Before the visit, make sure you’re in a relatively quiet, private, and well-lit location so you can freely speak to the doctor and are prepared for any possible physical examination they might perform by video.

Usually a video visit is initiated by a text message with a link asking you to join the physician in a secure conference call. You will then either be directly connected to the physician or to a nurse or medical assistant who will ask some basic questions before you are joined by the physician. If your physician is part of a large health system, the visit might be conducted through a secure patient portal that you will log into. For phone visits, you or the physician will initiate the call at the appointment time.

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The exam itself does not differ too much from one that takes place in an office setting. Dr. Yip says she conducts her telemedicine visits the same as she does her in-person visits with the exception of physical touch.

“The doctor will listen to their issue or concern, ask questions, and examine them to the extent possible,” says Dr. Sara Perkins, a dermatologist at Yale Medicine. “They will make recommendations and a plan for follow-up, if needed.”

Many medical conditions can be handled with telemedicine but of course there are constraints. Dr. Perkins notes that dermatology relies heavily on visual recognition, making it in some ways ideal for telemedicine. Dr. Kellner says that many urologic complaints and even complex conditions can be managed in part with telemedicine—though not all.

“We are in the digital age, but we haven’t figured out how to do a digital rectal exam through a telemedicine visit,” he says.

After the Visit

At the conclusion of the telemedicine visit, you can expect the same as you would from any other one. Dr. Kellner says patients will be set up for either further testing, lab testing, imaging, further telemedicine or office visits, if necessary. Any prescriptions will be sent to a pharmacy or mail-order prescription service. Should you have any questions, you can call the office as you normally would.

“We’re relying heavily on telemedicine visits while we have the epidemic,” Dr. Kellner says. “I think these are here to stay. Having this epidemic has really accelerated our use of telemed visits and I anticipate this will forever change medicine moving forward.”

Before Your Telehealth Appointment

Getting ready for your appointment is paramount to have a successful call. Make sure you download any software or app needed to talk to your doctor online. Most doctor’s offices will send you the instructions ahead of time.

Usually, the physician sends a link to your email address that directs you to a virtual waiting room, where you’ll wait for the doctor’s video connection to start. This connection is secure and uses software designed to maintain all patient-doctor confidentiality agreements and keep your personal information safe.

Before your appointment, make sure you:

• Check your wireless connection: Make sure the connection you’re using is strong, whether you’re using your phone or computer.
• Write down any questions you have: Because this is a new setting, it can be easy to forget common queries or things you wanted to discuss with your doctor.
• Have any medical equipment handy:The doctor might ask if you can check your blood pressure or temperature.
• Join the meeting a few minutes early: Connecting ahead of time will help you troubleshoot if you have connectivity issues.

During the Video Call with Your Doctor

At first, it’s normal to feel awkward. After all, this is an unfamiliar setting for many patients, and even for some doctors. Try to think of this as any other in-office appointment. Follow the prompts and questions the doctor asks and answer as you would in their office.

Make sure you’re in a private environment while you attend the call, remembering that you’re discussing medical issues. Consider using headphones to make sure you can hear the doctor clearly and that your doctor’s orders aren’t overheard — and don’t forget to turn on your microphone so they can listen to you as well.

Be as honest and transparent as possible about your symptoms with your doctor. Remember, because this is a video call, they won’t be able to analyze your symptoms such as shortness of breath or difficulty swallowing as they would at the office, so be as descriptive as possible. Don’t be afraid of asking intimate questions; remember that the call is safe and secure.

After Your Telehealth Appointment

Most likely, after your call, your doctor will order some testing to diagnose your condition. While doctors might be able to diagnose a cough or an allergy over video chat, some medical conditions might require further testing. In this scenario, the doctor’s office will follow up to help you set up the next appointments.

Write down any notes and suggestions from the doctors, and follow up on prescriptions if needed. Then, if you have any questions, don’t forget to reach out to your provider. Now, more than ever, telehealth is allowing almost 24/7 connectivity with a medical provider.

Benefits of Telehealth Services

Most virtual health visits show a high percentage of patient satisfaction, with the majority of clinical professionals noticing a 35% improvement in patient outcomes and a 31% increase in patient satisfaction. Also, the vast majority of physicians believe that it expands their access to patients, allowing for more efficient use of time for both doctors and patients. Furthermore, it reduces healthcare costs for everyone involved.

Eventually, you may find that you, as a patient, may feel more comfortable and at ease in your home versus a hospital or doctor’s office.

Today, many healthcare providers are tapping into the power of telehealth medicine. VidyoConnect is a leading conferencing service, offering on-premises solutions, and platform-as-a-service for healthcare market leaders, helping them stay connected and at the forefront of online medicine.

You’re on your way to simplified health care access with Online Doctor Visit. With access to the internet and a working computer, tablet or smartphone, you can bypass the aggravating waiting room (which is usually fraught with germs) and skip stressful traffic – because we bring the doctor’s office to you!

Online Doctor Visit allows you the convenience of a doctor’s visit in the comfort of your own home, 24/7. Members can consult with physicians from anywhere in the world – so, although it’s no fun, even getting sick while you’re on vacation is no longer the hassle it used to be.

To become an Online Doctor Visit telehealth member:

1. Create an account. Signing up with us is not time intensive; in fact, you’ll be ready to consult with a medical professional in a matter of minutes. All of your personal information will be securely saved so that any visits in the future will take up even less of your valuable time. You must be 18+ years of age to become a member. Children under the age of 18 can have a parent or guardian create an account for them.
2. Select a physician. As soon as you create your account, you will have access to all of the available medical providers who are licensed in your state. You can read doctors’ qualifications, specialty areas and patient reviews to help you select the right doctor for your needs.
3. Begin your medical visit. Upon selecting a provider, you will then be connected with them for a video chat, phone call, or email. Your physician will discuss your symptoms with you as well as physically examine you via video or shared photos. A high speed internet is recommended so that our providers can formulate the most effective treatment plan possible.
4. Follow your treatment plan. After you visit with your selected provider, you will receive a treatment plan that may involve over-the-counter medications and/or prescriptions. Your Online Doctor Visit provider will call your prescription in to your local pharmacy, where you will pick it up.

More insurance companies are covering telehealth consultations, so be sure to check with your insurance provider about their potential coverage of all or part of your Online Doctor Visit membership.

Remember that your telehealth visit is not intended to replace your ongoing relationship with your general practitioner; you should continue to visit your primary care doctor for yearly physical check-ups.

by Elizabeth Sillence And Lauren Georgia Bussey, The Conversation

More and more people are going online to search for information about their health. Though it can be a minefield, where unverified sources abound, searching the internet can help people to understand different health problems, and give them access to emotional and social support.

For many in the UK, getting to actually see a GP remains difficult, and constraints around appointment times mean that some discussions are often cut short. But by using the internet, patients can prepare for appointments, or follow up on issues that were raised in the consulting room but left them with unanswered questions.

But not everyone is so keen on patients using the internet in this way. Some GPs and other heath professionals have doubts about the quality and usefulness of the information available. There are also suggestions that “cyberchrondria” may be fuelling a surge in unnecessary tests and appointments.

Similarly, though so many people are using online resources to fill in gaps in their knowledge, or to help them ask the right questions, they may not be comfortable bringing it up in the consulting room.

For our latest research project, we wanted to find out just why it can be so difficult to discuss online information with doctors. We found that in addition to people being embarrassed in case they have misunderstood the information, or can’t remember it accurately, they also fear a negative reaction from the GP who may think they are difficult or challenging.

How to make it work

So how can you as a patient bring up online information with your doctor? First, it sounds obvious but you need a good, open relationship with your GP. Tell them you have been looking online, but ask for their feedback on the information, and for any useful sites they know of. We found that patients with a good doctor relationship felt able to discuss information and ideas from websites and online forums in a considered and critical manner.

Importantly, it is not about the patient trying to be the doctor. Ideally, patients should bring along their information, use it to help explain their key concerns, or detail the options they’ve explored, but also make clear that they still want and value their GP’s input on their findings.

Some of the patients we spoke to told us that they are acutely aware of their doctor’s negative feelings towards the internet. In these situations, people are sometimes tempted to disguise the source of their information. Rather than openly discussing their findings from the internet, they may pretend they got the information elsewhere when mentioning it to their doctor or be very careful not to reveal its origin at all.

For some people we spoke to, the process of trying to integrate the results of their web searches into their communications with the GP was frustrating to say the least. They felt uncomfortable, embarrassed, and sometimes held back key information. This made for unproductive meetings which were felt to be a waste of time.

This process can definitely be improved. As more appointments are going to be conducted over smartphone rather than face to face, and some GPs have admitted using Wikipedia to diagnose patients, the rest of the process needs to catch up with technology.

There needs to be a new and more productive way to integrate online information into doctor-patient discussions. First of all, there should be better ways for patients to collect and organise accurate information online so that they can organise their thoughts and prepare for a visit.

In the consulting room itself, GPs should use the research as an opportunity to have more productive discussions, and use it as a way to teach patients more about their own health issues. They need to question the information source, message and credibility, but GPs could also use it as an opportunity to nudge patients to think about their health options and consider what’s important to them.

Just as a GP is not solely responsible for the health of a patient, neither is the patient themselves. Internet research can no longer be dismissed. Even if inaccurate, it can help build a better relationship between patient and doctor, and give them both a better understanding of managing health in the modern world.

This article was originally published on The Conversation. Read the original article.

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Summary

How well you and your doctor communicate with each other is one of the most important parts of getting good health care. Being prepared can help you make the most of your visit, whether it is in person or through telehealth. Here are some things you can do to make the most of your appointment:

• Make lists of your concerns, any allergies and all the medicines, herbs, or vitamins you take
• Write down a description of symptoms – when they started, what makes them better, what makes them worse, etc.
• Ask a trusted friend or family member to be with you during the appointment
• Take notes during your appointment
• Learn how to access your medical records, so you can keep track of test results, diagnoses, treatments plans, and medicines
• Ask for your doctor’s contact information and find out the best way to communicate with him or her

Make sure you understand your diagnosis and any treatments. If you don’t understand your doctor’s responses, ask questions until you do understand. Ask your doctor for written instructions if you need them. Find out where else you can go for further information.