Telemedicine Online Access

[street]

Has anyone used this online avenue to get a prescription instead of trying to get into see a Doctor? My daughter-in-law did it this weekend while at her parents ranch. I will ask her more specifics when I see her in person. She had to drive to get her prescription for a sinus infection but was better then waiting till next week to try to get into a Doc.

 

[Aerides]

I've used telehealth with my PCP, very convenient and avoided me going into a doctor's office and infecting the waiting room.

I'm sure there are limits, and some meds that require an in person exam, and of course opiates, but for a lot of things, if it quacks like a duck, give them the med.

 

[street]

I've used telehealth with my PCP, very convenient and avoided me going into a doctor's office and infecting the waiting room.

I'm sure there are limits, and some meds that require an in person exam, and of course opiates, but for a lot of things, if it quacks like a duck, give them the med.

Thanks! Very interesting avenue and not meant for every ailment but is pretty handy. Especially living in very rural area.

 

[Scrapr]

I just used it. I had a rash (Poison Oak?) I contacted on the portal. Uploaded some pictures of the rashes. Dr spent 4 minutes looking at my case & ordered an ointment. Pharmacist spent a couple minutes on a call explaining. I picked up the Rx the next morning. It has worked pretty well

It would take about a week to see my Primary

 

[donheff]

I have Parkinson's and 3/4 of my appointments are by telehealth. The cameras are good enough for the doctor to evaluate motor issues, including gait. She has adjusted my meds based on tele visits, My PCP has often prescribed meds by phone when appropriate. A lot of stuff needs physical exams or tests.

 

[audreyh1]

Luckily if I have something urgent but not life threatening I can call my PCP and be seen that day by a nurse practitioner. Even Saturday morning. My PCP does do televisits for some test follow-ups.

 

[Car-Guy]

Yes I've used telehealth services a few times. Usually when I already know what I need. It's been quicker (30mins vs days) and much more convenient (at home vs driving an ~hour each way) than going to see my PCP.

Seems more expensive initially but the actual cost is about the same when I factor in the cost of a ~100 mile round trip.

 

[braumeister]

Thanks! Very interesting avenue and not meant for every ailment but is pretty handy. Especially living in very rural area.

Telehealth appointments are very common in the VA healthcare system, mainly because a lot of vets have limited mobility and don't live close to a clinic.

 

[audreyh1]

We really learned a lot about how to do telemedicine during COVID and it’s here to stay as a useful and convenient tool.

 

[aja8888]

I did this when I had Covid two years ago Easy to do

 

[disneysteve]

We really learned a lot about how to do telemedicine during COVID and it’s here to stay as a useful and convenient tool.

This. Telehealth was around before COVID but the pandemic really forced providers and healthcare systems to fully embrace it. At my urgent care, we started doing telehealth solely for COVID screening and referring appropriate patients for testing. That went so well that they expanded it to more broad services so you can now do a telehealth visit for a wide variety of problems. If the provider determines you need in-person evaluation, they will refer you to one of the physical clinics.

A lot of providers use telehealth for routine follow up care where an in-person visit either isn't necessary or is challenging due to the patient's limitations. It's great for rural residents, elderly or disabled folks, etc. It's fantastic for behavioral health services. Our daughter switched to telehealth for her counseling visits in 2020 due to COVID and never went back to in-person visits. My mom has done telehealth follow up frequently with her pain management doctor. She still went in person every 3-4 months but in between did telehealth.

 

[Markola]

I’m a big fan of both HealthPartners’ Virtuwell online nurse practitioners, and CVS Minute Clinic for in-person needs, which are staffed with nurse practitioners or PAs.

 

[Closet_Gamer]

I’ve used telehealth for things like a sore throat. Very useful when you’re on vacation. Point the camera at your throat, say “aaah”, get a script sent to CVS. A+

That said, I’m very opposed to the drug-specific type sales Telehealth models.

Think you need a GLP-1? So do we! Of course we’re totally guided by the medicine even tho we get paid for selling these drugs.

Think you need an antibiotic? Fill out this form. You’re not a doc … but just out of curiosity which antibiotic do you think would be best. Amazing! We think that one is right too!

Should be illegal.

 

[disneysteve]

I’ve used telehealth for things like a sore throat. Very useful when you’re on vacation. Point the camera at your throat, say “aaah”, get a script sent to CVS.

Responses like this really concern me. There is no way possible for any provider to tell via telehealth if you have strep throat. That requires a throat swab with a rapid test,or possibly a culture. If you pointed your camera at your throat and they prescribed an antibiotic, that was negligent on their part. They should have directed you to their nearest office for in person evaluation.

 

[big-papa]

Has anyone used this online avenue to get a prescription instead of trying to get into see a Doctor? My daughter-in-law did it this weekend while at her parents ranch. I will ask her more specifics when I see her in person. She had to drive to get her prescription for a sinus infection but was better then waiting till next week to try to get into a Doc.

Yes - My wife and I both did this when we got Covid and both got Paxlovid prescriptions this way. Got a rando-assigned doc from the practice where my PCP works.

Before that, I developed a strange rash on both legs and had a telemedicine visit with my PCP because one of the many covid symptoms being reported was skin rashes. Pointed my phone camera at the rash and during the exam I had the a-ha moment. I cycle a lot and suddenly I had developed a reaction to the silicone used on leg grippers on bike shorts. He prescribed a topical and I replaced all of my bike shorts with those without silicone grippers.

Cheers.

 

[disneysteve]

Yes - My wife and I both did this when we got Covid and both got Paxlovid prescriptions this way. Got a rando-assigned doc from the practice where my PCP works.

Before that, I developed a strange rash on both legs and had a telemedicine visit with my PCP. Pointed camera at my rash. During the exam I had the a-ha moment. I cycle a lot and suddenly I had developed a reaction to the silicone use on grippers on bike shorts. He prescribed a topical and I replaced all of my bike shorts with those without silicone grippers.

Cheers.

It's great for COVID once home tests came out. A positive test and a quick medical history and medication review is all you need to get Paxlovid.

Good for simple dermatology stuff too as long as the provider can get a good look at the rash.

 

[Koolau]

Yeah, my last Telehealth was 5000 miles from my doc. He was following up with me on a procedure he performed on my back before I traveled to the mainland. Would have been virtually the same in his office (though he probably would have looked at my back in his office - for 10 seconds).

I'm not so sure about diagnosis by Telehealth. No access to tests or even things like Temp, BP, etc. (though those are easy to get at home if the doctor will trust you to do them).

 

[swakyaby]

When I had the classic symptoms and a home test positive for Covid on a Sunday morning, my health insurance had a phone number for their Teladoc. I was initially screened by a receptionist who then said I would receive a call from a physician within the next hour. A physician located in another state called, asked a few health questions, then said she would call in a prescription for Paxlovid to my preferred pharmacy. By 1:30 pm, my prescription was ready for pickup. No copay for the “visit” or the prescription.

 

[Closet_Gamer]

Responses like this really concern me. There is no way possible for any provider to tell via telehealth if you have strep throat. That requires a throat swab with a rapid test,or possibly a culture. If you pointed your camera at your throat and they prescribed an antibiotic, that was negligent on their part. They should have directed you to their nearest office for in person evaluation.

My daughter would agree with you. She’s a pharmacist working on her residency for infectious disease and antibiotic stewardship.

 

[pacergal]

We use online medical care frequently. Either video visits, or E-visit, so simple and no charge.

 

[Koolau]

Responses like this really concern me. There is no way possible for any provider to tell via telehealth if you have strep throat. That requires a throat swab with a rapid test,or possibly a culture. If you pointed your camera at your throat and they prescribed an antibiotic, that was negligent on their part. They should have directed you to their nearest office for in person evaluation.

Then there is THIS from Dr. Drew. What is the consensus on such a "kit" of intervention drugs sent to you BEFORE you ever get sick?

Sounds - sketchy but I'm no doctor.

Medical Emergency Kit

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www.twc.health

 

[disneysteve]

Then there is THIS from Dr. Drew. What is the consensus on such a "kit" of intervention drugs sent to you BEFORE you ever get sick?

Sounds - sketchy but I'm no doctor.

There's a lot of sketchy stuff that goes on in the medical field. This one is kind of borderline. If you are planning to travel to a third world country or hiking some remote area for a week or two and want to bring this along, I wouldn't have a problem with that. Having this kit could literally be life-saving in that setting. If, however, you want it for your basement bunker in suburbia where medical care is literally as close as your cell phone because you're a doomsday conspiracy theorist, that's a different story.

 

[Koolau]

There's a lot of sketchy stuff that goes on in the medical field. This one is kind of borderline. If you are planning to travel to a third world country or hiking some remote area for a week or two and want to bring this along, I wouldn't have a problem with that. Having this kit could literally be life-saving in that setting. If, however, you want it for your basement bunker in suburbia where medical care is literally as close as your cell phone because you're a doomsday conspiracy theorist, that's a different story.

Thanks for your perspective. My take from the TV add for the "kit" is that it's simply to avoid trips to the ER or UC - allowing you to diagnose yourself and take the "appropriate" Pharma product supplied in the kit.

That DOES seem sketchy to me, though I happen to think I could do it myself - but I would not trust most people to do it (and, of course, I could be wrong)!

 

[disneysteve]

Thanks for your perspective. My take from the TV add for the "kit" is that it's simply to avoid trips to the ER or UC - allowing you to diagnose yourself and take the "appropriate" Pharma product supplied in the kit.

That DOES seem sketchy to me, though I happen to think I could do it myself - but I would not trust most people to do it (and, of course, I could be wrong)!

Yeah, definitely not appropriate for that intended purpose. Nobody should be self-diagnosing and self-"prescribing" antibiotics, antifungals, and antiparasitics. How don't know how it's even legal to dispense those things in that manner.

 

[timbervest]

I just used a zoom video appt with my doctor for the first time. It was mostly questions had about symptoms and we referred me to a specialist. Saved having to drive to and go into the office. Very convenient for when the doctor doesnt actually need to look at something.