At Crescent Beach Care, we provide medical and aesthetic services to a variety of patients, all of them varying in age, background, ethnicity, and more. However, we also understand when there is a possibility for a difference in quality of care based on these factors, and try to address it as soon as possible so everyone can enjoy equal healthcare.
That’s why we are making a guide to telemedicine (also referred to as telehealth). We recognize that there are patients who are not as tech savvy, and therefore they miss out on the opportunity of talking with their doctor from their own home. In this blog, we’ll give you the basics of telehealth, and provide you a step-by-step understanding of how you can benefit from using telemedicine near Palm Coast.
What is telemedicine?
Telemedicine is the use of technology and electronic devices (computers, smartphones, etc.) between providers and patients to provide healthcare. The demand and use of telemedicine has grown exponentially since 2020 (for obvious reasons), but even before the coronavirus pandemic, telemedicine was an effective way for providers to see and treat patients who may have a highly contagious illness, patients who cannot leave their home, and patients who may be traveling.
What can you treat with telemedicine?
We understand the confusion—how can a doctor treat you if they can’t even examine you? Well, for serious issues like broken bones, open wounds, and active infections, your provider will want to see you in person. However, your provider might suggest telemedicine for less serious illnesses like a cold or UTI. Essentially, telemedicine can be an effective way to manage conditions through discussions of symptoms and treatment instead of through an examination.
Here are some common conditions we treat patients for through telemedicine near Palm Coast.
- Diabetes
- Chronic back pain
- High blood pressure
- Migraines
- Skin conditions
- Allergies
- Colds
- Flu
- UTIs
- Minor cuts and scrapes
What a Provider Does During a Telemedicine Appointment
The care your doctor or provider would give you during a regular in-office visit would be the same quality of care they would provide over a telehealth appointment. They’ll listen while you describe your concerns, ask a few questions, explain what they believe to be the cause, and discuss your treatment options with you. If providers have the ability to prescribe medications, they can even do so during your telehealth appointment.
Your provider can then schedule a follow-up appointment if necessary. This can be in-person or through a telehealth platform, depending on their concerns. If they believe they need a deeper understanding of your condition, they can request you get labs done and then schedule an appointment to talk about your results with you. Telemedicine provides the same degree of care, but allows more flexibility for both patients and providers.
How to Attend a Telemedicine Appointment
Here is how you schedule a telemedicine appointment with your provider, and how you “arrive” at your appointment.
Step 1) Schedule an Appointment
First, you need to schedule your appointment. You can call our concierge team, log in to your patient portal if you are a returning patient, or request an appointment if you are new to our practice. Once your telehealth appointment is scheduled, you should receive a confirmation email or text confirming your appointment.
Step 2) Receive an Email or Text
When you receive your confirmation message, you’ll see a unique link. This link is your key to getting into your appointment. Save this for the day and time of your appointment, as you’ll use this link when it’s time for your appointment. Should you lose this link, reach out to your provider and they can resend it.
Step 3) Click the Link
The day of your appointment, make sure you have a phone, computer, or tablet that is fully charged or plugged into a working outlet. About 5 minutes before your appointment, you will click the link in your confirmation message, and you will be prompted to add your name. After typing your name and clicking “Accept,” the web browser will ask for access to your camera and microphone. Once you allow those permissions, you will be ready to meet with your provider.
Step 4) Talk With Your Provider
During your appointment, you will talk with your provider about your concerns. You can discuss your symptoms, and, if needed, your provider can look at any cuts or skin concerns through the camera. They’ll let you know what they believe you have and then talk with you about your treatment options. Once you both agree on treatment, you can schedule a follow-up if needed, which may be in-person or via telemedicine near Palm Coast.
Step 5) Leave Your Appointment
At the bottom of your screen, there should be a red button that looks like a door, with the words “leave” underneath it. Once you are done talking with your provider and have said goodbye, you can click that button and leave the call, ending the appointment.
Common Questions
In this day and age, knowing how to use technology is essential. However, having questions is completely normal, and we want to make sure you have all the information you need to have a useful and effective appointment. Here are the most common questions we hear from our patients regarding telemedicine near Palm Coast, and their corresponding answers.
Do I have to meet with my provider?
If you are looking for more immediate care, you can schedule an appointment with the first available provider in our practice. All our providers are experienced and dedicated to offering the highest quality of treatment to our patients, and they will be happy to provide the care you need even if you aren’t a regular patient. However, if you want to meet with your primary provider, you can choose to make an appointment with them as well.
Is telemedicine safe?
Yes, telemedicine is completely safe, and your data is always protected. We use a system called Tebra, which is a secure digital EMR (electronic medical record) system that has the capabilities to secure your voice and video calls between you and your provider. You can trust that anything you discuss with your provider will not be heard or recorded by any digital third parties.
Can I have someone in the room with me?
Yes, you can have someone you trust in the room with you. We do not suggest having your telehealth appointment in a public space where anyone can overhear your medical details, but if you wish to have a family member or close friend with you to provide moral support and ask questions, we are more than happy to accommodate. All we ask is that you let your provider know that they are also present when the call begins!
Are telehealth and telemedicine that same thing?
“Telehealth” is more of an umbrella term that encompasses all aspects of digital health services over audio and video. “Telemedicine” is a more specific term referencing virtual appointments between patient and provider. However, these terms are used interchangeably.
What if I have trouble getting into my telemedicine appointment?
If you run into an issue getting into your virtual appointment, you can call our concierge team and they’ll be happy to help. They will also let your provider know you are having difficulty getting into your appointment.
What if I want my follow-up appointment to be virtual?
If you want your follow-up appointment to be via telemedicine near Palm Coast, you can let your provider know towards the end of your call. When they schedule your appointment, they’ll schedule it specifically as a virtual appointment. Then, you’ll receive another confirmation email with a unique link.
Does my telemedicine appointment need to use video?
Yes, your provider will need you to use both audio and video during your telehealth appointment. This is because many insurance companies will not cover the cost of a telehealth appointment if it does not have video, so we require this aspect of care for the sake of insurance coverage. Additionally, having a visual reference of your concerns allows us to provide a better quality of care, as we can better gauge your overall well-being.
What if I don’t like telemedicine?
If you try telemedicine and prefer to have in-person appointments, then we encourage you to schedule appointments in the office. While we offer telemedicine near Palm Coast as a more flexible option for our patients, we want you to be comfortable during your appointment. And if seeing your provider in person does that, then we are glad to schedule an in-person appointment.
What happens if I lose my appointment link?
If you lose the link to your virtual appointment, then we encourage you to call our concierge team or email your doctor. They can send you the link again so you can enter your appointment.
Get Convenient Care
At Crescent Beach Care, our team makes getting the care you need easy. On top of offering telemedicine near Palm Coast, we offer our complementary treatment planning tool to explore your concerns and find the right treatments for you. However, if you are ready to see a provider, you can easily request an appointment with just a few clicks. Reach out and meet with expert, dedicated providers who make your health their goal!
