I have participated. It would be nice if this speeded up doctor visits, but it does not. How ridiculous to have to wait 2-4 weeks for a doctor visit, then if you have 6 problems, they say they can only address 2 of them so pick which is more important. ALL OF THEM ARE IMPORTANT!!!!! I am sooo frustrated with medical care today.
Kathy
2 years ago
I’ve read a lot of the comments and feel that the video visits are good for discussions only. For any real issues, you need to be seen in person! There is no other way for a physician to truly assess your condition. As the nurses on here have commented, seeing and touching is necessary to some conditions. I am fortunate that my health care provider does not charge for video visits (yet!). However, I am sure they will start charging at some point.
I also believe it is a cop-out for some hospitals… there is so much fear porn about COVID that it just strikes me that people are getting stupid and not trusting their own knowledge of science.
Randy
2 years ago
A coworker tested positive for COVID. Company rules mandated seven days confined at home and negative test. Health provider has virtual urgent care. Used it to set up the test. It worked great and cost a third. Still, in person for majority.
Jacquelin L Honeycutt
2 years ago
Having an appointment over the phone is hardly comparable to a visit at the Doctor’s office.
Peter Giger
2 years ago
My rule of thumb is to follow house rules wherever I go. I’m 69 and retired and was caught up in a situation recently that mandated a physical. Upon retirement in 2013 I swore off physicians and their RXs which I claim reduces God given natural immunity and forces dependence both on substances and physicians. I hadn’t spoken to a physician since 2012 and came through the physical with flying colors. The MD ordered blood draw and later gave his recommendation virtually. His comments was “thumbs up”.
Lynda Petrilli
2 years ago
I think that there are too many things that your doctor needs to check to make sure that everything is okay. I think this is just another way that the medical monopoly can increase their profits.
Rick
2 years ago
The only time I would use it is for a follow up or where I just needed to talk to the doctor. If I need a diagnosis, I think the doctor needs to actually see me in person.
Johnie W Zimmerman
2 years ago
I believe there are times the virtual visit is Ok. I am 74, take 6 Rx I’ve been taking for several years, am in good health and I’m always offered the option of a virtual or in person visit with my family physician since we typically review my Rx, I’m asked how I feel in general, if I have any new issues, and she watches as I take my BP/pulse on my ‘certified’ monitor. You may wonder how my equipment is ‘certified’? When I visited in person I took it with me and we compared mine to theirs. My and their equipment read within 100% acceptable readings of each other. I have done the virtual visit twice and one in person visit over the previous 12 months. I’ve had 3 specialist visits in the same time period, those were in person. ** I have no issue with paying my $15.00 family physician / $50.00 specialist co-pay be the visit virtual or in person. Our doctors are professionals, our hospitals are healthcare business’, they must receive pay for their services or there cannot be such service. Bottom line, virtual visits save exposure for the patient and for the physician and are good when appropriate.
Judy
2 years ago
I prefer Natural Paths because they build the immune system, they tell you what you need to change in your life to get well. . Doctors don’t make you well; they put people on medicines and don’t tell patience how they can get well. Sorry, but the medical profession is corrupt due to wanting to make money. Example: diabetes it can be cured. I know several people who changed their diet, exercise and meditate and show no signs of diabetes. Doctors should be telling patients how they can get well. There is money to be made in keeping people on meds. I prefer Zoom for that reason: a drive thru or tele-med – there are times I can’t figure out what is wrong and I need a starting point. If doctors tried to help people get well to get them off meds: then I would have more respect for them.
Michael Adams
2 years ago
Telemedicine is the biggest ripoff they can have. Did it twice and they told me to go get over the counter medicine an charged me 35 copay both times!
Nancy
2 years ago
I do not as a rule use a zoom call as a visit but sometimes it is ok. However, there should be a discount for a visit like that. Just as you shouldn’t have to deal with a PA when you asked to see the doctor.
Chuck
2 years ago
None of the options answer the question of “Which is the most accurate?”; the question matching the answers should be “What do you think if telemedicine?
Dennis Miller
2 years ago
So impersonal. I prefer face to face. Banks, doctors, restaurants. I do not use drive-throughs of any sort if I can help it. I would probably change doctors before using telemedicine. I can make my own food. Why do pickup and take it home? All the cost and no service
Bill Bates
2 years ago
It is rather hard to get examine via a computer. Maybe someday in the future, when there is a robot assistant living in your home, to take you temperature, BP, O2 Saturation, etc. and report it. But a MD, Nurse, PA or anyone else depends on seeing and touching a patient. Suzanne says it perfectly below. They need to SEE you in person.
Suzanne
2 years ago
I am a retired nurse. When a patient is examined the MD. PA. NP, RN or whoever is doing the exam should use their senses. How can an examiner know what going on with the heart or lungs, abdomen without listening with a stethoscope? Looking at the skin, hair, eyes, nails and all visible parts can tell you a lot. Touching the skin, abdomen and other body parts are necessary. Some illnesses can be identified by smell. A good exam cannot be done by telemedicine, although there are some needs that can be met by telemedicine. The problem today is not limited to telemedicine. Providers depend too much on tests instead of doing a good exam. On many visits to the office some patients are never touched. In the old days doctors depended a lot on what they could see, feel, hear and touch. The tests are used to diagnosis but also to confirm a diagnosis the doctor already knows. Many times tests are used when a diagnosis is pretty certain just in case you get sued you can prove you did it all.
Nick Selembo
2 years ago
Reading the previous posting about the person who lost their sister Christmas Eve. My condolences. So things are probably not going to get better. China Joe Biden just nominated Ricky/Rachel Levin, the former Secretary of Health of Pa. to become assistance Secretary of Health for the whole U.S. OMG in Pa. there are billboards on the Pa. Turnpike with a picture of Gov. Wolf (Uncle Fester from the Adams family) and Rachel Levine(known as Cousin It) with a caption. Dont Blame Me I Voted for Wagner(the Republican candidate) Levine was widely known to have his/her mother in a Pa. nursing home and promptly moved her out of nursing home to a hotel for safety during the original months of the pandemic last year. So good for his/her mom and to hell for the rest of us right. One rule for them and ANOTHER rule for us Democratic Socialists wouldn’t be able to fool a lot of people except for the fact that they have the MSM on their side now. Trump was right. Thats why he got involved. If the Republican party doesn’t grow some teeth pretty soon the only alternative we will have is to leave it, follow Trump and create a third party with some balls and go after the Communist Democrats before everything is gone. Our leaders are failing us with some exceptions. If they were paid on a performance basis like in sales how many would still be working. Very few.
No Name
2 years ago
I attribute my sisters death in December to the fact that her personal physician would only see her by tele-visit. This was back in June of 2020. In July, I urged her to seek out another physician somewhere, anywhere, and she did, in July. He referred her to the Mayo clinic in Jacksonville, Florida, and after a through battery of tests, she was diagnosed with multiple myeloma. Could an earlier visit in person, in June, changed things? She lost her battle Christmas Eve.
Barbara Stricker
2 years ago
I like the Tele doctor visits. Saves me from an hour trip to the city .i have had all tests and bloodwork done beforehand. . just another tool to use..
Patti Hollifield
2 years ago
I work in a large health system with several rural hospitals. Telemedicine allows us to be able to treat patients at our rural hospitals much quicker than having to transfer them to a larger facility. AN example is neurology and infectious disease consults. If a patient shows up at a rural hospital with stroke like symptoms, a telemedicine consult could be done with a neurologist to determine what level of care the patients needs. Without telemedicine they would have to be transferred before being “seen” by a neurologist. For doctor’s visits, telemedicine is great for minor issues. This also helps patients who have limited transportation resources.
Steven Staley
2 years ago
Simply put, I view telemedicine as an overpriced and lazy way to see or be seen by a doctor. I think that it is a shame that it has come to an “overpriced video” to be seen by a doctor.
It rates right up there with mail in voting.
Stephen Lykins
2 years ago
Telemedicine lends itself well to some things such as consultations and I am open to it for those things. I don’t think it lends itself well for most things since they require accurate temperature, listening through a stethoscope, blood and urine samples, etc.
Thomas Janquart
2 years ago
Virtual anything increases the amount of electromagnetic frequency radiation our bodies absorb causing illness as proven by studies of microwave transmission for over 40 years. Doctors are still not trained to recognize the symptoms because they look like that of COVID-19. Is that a virus? Or simply the results of an economy trying to supply wants and needs that reality says will kill us? On top of all that is overpopulation that world leaders have been trying to control for 100 years (China the most noted). Do keep your virtual anything to yourself. Get rid of 5G and above or all will suffer mutated viruses being masked as COVID.
Andrew Levine
2 years ago
It depends on the nature of the problem. My doctors know when to tell me when they need to see me
NoName
2 years ago
As a nurse, I see telemedicine as a horrible way of providing health care! It’s impossible to do a complete and accurate physical assessment over the phone or computer. A lot of important cues that reveal serious illness going on are missed. I consider it a form of malpractice, to be honest!
The ONLY reason I can see using telemedicine to discuss lab results, test results, or questions. It should absolutely not be used for the purposes of diagnosis and treatment if an in-person visit has not been done first.
Besides, the fear of dying from a virus with a 0.01% mortality rate is not a good reason to forgo necessary medical care. You have a much higher chance of dying from not being treated for a serious condition than you do from the Kung Flu.
Helen
2 years ago
I have done it twice which went very well as I had all my information in front of me to discuss my issues. However there are times it is necessary for the dr to actually see the patient and to get accurate blood pressure, pulse, and weight etc.
Dan
2 years ago
It has it’s places, a few. However, far better to go actually see your doctor and actually practice medicine.
Robert Shields
2 years ago
I have not used a telemedicine visit, my wife was unable to travel without an ambulance and this made it possible for her to have regular doctor visits.
K Verdoes
2 years ago
Just think of all the hackers who can listen in on your once-confidential doctor appointments. Privacy no longer exists, so expect Big Daddy Government to start BCCing itself in your video visits.
James Marvin
2 years ago
How much is charged for a tele visit?
BILL STOUT
2 years ago
I recently had an appointment with one of my many Doctors, this time required a prostrate exam. Just wondering how does that work with a Telemedicine visit? Is a web cam required? Who has to insert it for proper placement and optimal viewing me or my wife? Will my webcam still work after being covered with lube? Examining Minds just want to know!!
Diane Tyson
2 years ago
I feel the same way about telemedicine as I feel about the AMA in general…No, thank you!!
Charles M. Sever
2 years ago
I only will do face to face visits. It’s important that I see my Doctor and he see me, I believe it is the person side of the visit that we both understand the problem that I came to his office for.
Phil
2 years ago
I go to the VA and was involved with their telemedicine program. I am diabetic and have high blood pressure. I took my blood pressure daily with a machine they gave me that communicated with them over a cell network. It also downloaded the readings for blood sugar and transmitted it to them daily. I thought that program worked very well.
Paatriot Gramma
2 years ago
I have one prescription, an estradiol patch. For a refill, it is fine but my husband has something more serious going on and it is a waste of time to do telemed.
Tumbleweedtundra
2 years ago
Since I live in Alaska, where distances and weather can make traveling logistics time consuming and expensive, sometimes involving driving to an airport, taking a plane and or/a boat or even all three to go see a doctor, I’m all in for telemedicine. A combination of both telemedicine and actual in-person visits is absolutely the way to go. I include this as one of the positive spin-offs of Covid or the CCP Virus or whatever one wants to call it. Gimme that time saving grocery shopping service, telemedicine and the spin-off of getting more of our kids out of socialist-brainwashing public schools, and one can see the silver lining in what was a bad situation.
Todd
2 years ago
I could see telehealth visits for med refills or routine followup. In my opinion, it is much more qualitative to be examined, looked at, yes and even smelled. A personal picture is worth ten thousand words. I also see telehealth as a ripe potential to have your HIPPA privacy rights violated.
Annonymous
2 years ago
When contacted to ask if I’d be interested in doing a televisit over my scheduled visit a few hours later, I thought: ‘sure…save me from having to get dressed & drive a couple miles to his office..plus…I’m sure it would be cheaper, so I figured I’d give it a try…” To my dismay..after a total of about 7 minutes..keeping in mind about half that time was spent on technical issues (we could see each other but no audio!) Once that was resolved I was told my labs were good and that ended our visit! I’m thinking I just did my part in reducing a medical bill…Wrong. I was charged for a Level Four office visit totally over $200! I was stunned! But…
That’s not the end of this saga. Roughly TWO MONTHS lately, I received a call for a Follow-up visit. I explained I only see my PCP twice a year & was told ‘Oh after a telemedicine conference call, the doctor likes to see his patients THREE MONTHS LATER! ”
I am still in shock of what I consider is abuse /dare I say:”fraud”….but due to being a past long term employee of our small community hospital – all I feel comfortable doing is decline if ever asked again!
C Geil
2 years ago
Assuming you’re relatively healthy, this is probably okay for short-term medical intervention. It is not, however, in my opinion, 100% reliable and responsible health care.
Over the last 10 years, I’ve had the distinct impression that physicians are welcoming socialized medicine, which I find completely baffling. We already know that (most) nurses, like teachers, have gone over to the Communists.
Can anyone explain to me why, after 8+ years of rigorous (hopefully) training, and hundreds of thousands of dollars, a physician would welcome government control of their income, their medical practice (dictating who will receive care, and what kind of care can be dispensed), and violation of their patients’ privacy?
Elton
2 years ago
They still charge FULL PRICE, but only give you a virtual visit. How is that not fraud?
Christopher L Vaughn
2 years ago
dont have the software or know how. one dr did a phone appt. insurance wouldn’t pay so i refuse to do any of this crap. i have told my drs either make me a real appt or slide dates until they can.
Susan Rogalsky
2 years ago
I have a bladder infection and just need an antibiotic. I don’t need to see a doctor and risk getting Covid19 by going in. I’m in a very high risk group and prefer to stay as far away from all germs as possible. We did TeleMed, and the doctor let us pick up a clean-catch kit and bring it back to the lab. No contact visit. Picked up the antibiotics at the pharmacy window. It was great! I would do it again, even if there wasn’t a pandemic.
Donna C Krecklow
2 years ago
Many of my Dr. visits are just routine, such as getting a Rx refill. If I go into the office, the only difference is they check my weight, height, and BP. I do that at home before the Telmed visit so it works just fine. I LOVE it. So much easier and less intrusive. If I have a real problem, I would of course go in for an in person visit.
mgoode
2 years ago
You’re kidding me, right? At best, it is a stop-gap for long term patients, updating prescriptions and reporting events.
Otherwise it is either lazy or sketchy, and not good medical practice. There is no substitute for face to face, hands on, with your doctor.
I hesitate to call this medicine. It sounds like something that would be approved under Obamination non-Care, especially for the non-productive elderly.
Jim Barsul
2 years ago
Doc hates it – end of story.
Matt Barnes
2 years ago
I am over 60 and have used telemedicine several times. Keep in mind, it can only be used for certain conditions. My first experience was when I had the flu. Feeling awful and had no interest in going to see the doctor. So nice to do this from my couch. Our insurance has a contract with Cleveland Clinic and the total cis $45.
James Daffron
2 years ago
We use the computer to have face-to-face video conferences with several of our doctors. This includes me, my wife, and my sister-in-law. We are all well over 70. We have purchased a blood pressure machine, so we weigh, take temperature, blood pressure, and I take my blood sugar, before a telemed. Then with sit down, go over the prelims with the nurse. Then we have a face-to-face with the doctor.
For me, it is much easier than going out and traveling to a doctor, since I am also a cancer patient and very weak. There are some visits that I have to make in-person that leave me exhausted.
I believe for many visits, telemed will be the future of medicine. It will reduce costs, travel time for patients, and be more convenient. Like all changes, some will be uncomfortable with it, at first. But we all will adjust. Younger people and those of us that are more tech savy will adjust easier.
Richard A Kampa
2 years ago
This may work for some stuff but doctors may find other problems when they have visual on the whole you. Plus some can actually do better when you are sitting across the table from them. Plus its impossible to do lab work with this system.
Wayne Peterkin
2 years ago
The big issue is any minor office tests that can be done for a diagnosis. Can’t do that stuff in a televisit. It’s okay for very minor consultations but little else.
Patriot
2 years ago
My Doctor has not touched me in years. He comes in with his laptop, shows me a picture of what I’m talking about and asks, “Is this what it looks like?” Since I’m healthy I put up with this. You better start liking telemedicine because as with so many other negative consequences of The Virus, it will be the bew normal.
BobA
2 years ago
My wife and I were talking this morning before I saw this about how sorry we are for seniors trying to register for a Covid vaccine. If you call and are hard of hearing or try to register on line and aren’t computer savvy better hope you have someone who will do it for you. Try having a doctor visit is just as bad by phone.
I have participated. It would be nice if this speeded up doctor visits, but it does not. How ridiculous to have to wait 2-4 weeks for a doctor visit, then if you have 6 problems, they say they can only address 2 of them so pick which is more important. ALL OF THEM ARE IMPORTANT!!!!! I am sooo frustrated with medical care today.
I’ve read a lot of the comments and feel that the video visits are good for discussions only. For any real issues, you need to be seen in person! There is no other way for a physician to truly assess your condition. As the nurses on here have commented, seeing and touching is necessary to some conditions. I am fortunate that my health care provider does not charge for video visits (yet!). However, I am sure they will start charging at some point.
I also believe it is a cop-out for some hospitals… there is so much fear porn about COVID that it just strikes me that people are getting stupid and not trusting their own knowledge of science.
A coworker tested positive for COVID. Company rules mandated seven days confined at home and negative test. Health provider has virtual urgent care. Used it to set up the test. It worked great and cost a third. Still, in person for majority.
Having an appointment over the phone is hardly comparable to a visit at the Doctor’s office.
My rule of thumb is to follow house rules wherever I go. I’m 69 and retired and was caught up in a situation recently that mandated a physical. Upon retirement in 2013 I swore off physicians and their RXs which I claim reduces God given natural immunity and forces dependence both on substances and physicians. I hadn’t spoken to a physician since 2012 and came through the physical with flying colors. The MD ordered blood draw and later gave his recommendation virtually. His comments was “thumbs up”.
I think that there are too many things that your doctor needs to check to make sure that everything is okay. I think this is just another way that the medical monopoly can increase their profits.
The only time I would use it is for a follow up or where I just needed to talk to the doctor. If I need a diagnosis, I think the doctor needs to actually see me in person.
I believe there are times the virtual visit is Ok. I am 74, take 6 Rx I’ve been taking for several years, am in good health and I’m always offered the option of a virtual or in person visit with my family physician since we typically review my Rx, I’m asked how I feel in general, if I have any new issues, and she watches as I take my BP/pulse on my ‘certified’ monitor. You may wonder how my equipment is ‘certified’? When I visited in person I took it with me and we compared mine to theirs. My and their equipment read within 100% acceptable readings of each other. I have done the virtual visit twice and one in person visit over the previous 12 months. I’ve had 3 specialist visits in the same time period, those were in person. ** I have no issue with paying my $15.00 family physician / $50.00 specialist co-pay be the visit virtual or in person. Our doctors are professionals, our hospitals are healthcare business’, they must receive pay for their services or there cannot be such service. Bottom line, virtual visits save exposure for the patient and for the physician and are good when appropriate.
I prefer Natural Paths because they build the immune system, they tell you what you need to change in your life to get well. . Doctors don’t make you well; they put people on medicines and don’t tell patience how they can get well. Sorry, but the medical profession is corrupt due to wanting to make money. Example: diabetes it can be cured. I know several people who changed their diet, exercise and meditate and show no signs of diabetes. Doctors should be telling patients how they can get well. There is money to be made in keeping people on meds. I prefer Zoom for that reason: a drive thru or tele-med – there are times I can’t figure out what is wrong and I need a starting point. If doctors tried to help people get well to get them off meds: then I would have more respect for them.
Telemedicine is the biggest ripoff they can have. Did it twice and they told me to go get over the counter medicine an charged me 35 copay both times!
I do not as a rule use a zoom call as a visit but sometimes it is ok. However, there should be a discount for a visit like that. Just as you shouldn’t have to deal with a PA when you asked to see the doctor.
None of the options answer the question of “Which is the most accurate?”; the question matching the answers should be “What do you think if telemedicine?
So impersonal. I prefer face to face. Banks, doctors, restaurants. I do not use drive-throughs of any sort if I can help it. I would probably change doctors before using telemedicine. I can make my own food. Why do pickup and take it home? All the cost and no service
It is rather hard to get examine via a computer. Maybe someday in the future, when there is a robot assistant living in your home, to take you temperature, BP, O2 Saturation, etc. and report it. But a MD, Nurse, PA or anyone else depends on seeing and touching a patient. Suzanne says it perfectly below. They need to SEE you in person.
I am a retired nurse. When a patient is examined the MD. PA. NP, RN or whoever is doing the exam should use their senses. How can an examiner know what going on with the heart or lungs, abdomen without listening with a stethoscope? Looking at the skin, hair, eyes, nails and all visible parts can tell you a lot. Touching the skin, abdomen and other body parts are necessary. Some illnesses can be identified by smell. A good exam cannot be done by telemedicine, although there are some needs that can be met by telemedicine. The problem today is not limited to telemedicine. Providers depend too much on tests instead of doing a good exam. On many visits to the office some patients are never touched. In the old days doctors depended a lot on what they could see, feel, hear and touch. The tests are used to diagnosis but also to confirm a diagnosis the doctor already knows. Many times tests are used when a diagnosis is pretty certain just in case you get sued you can prove you did it all.
Reading the previous posting about the person who lost their sister Christmas Eve. My condolences. So things are probably not going to get better. China Joe Biden just nominated Ricky/Rachel Levin, the former Secretary of Health of Pa. to become assistance Secretary of Health for the whole U.S. OMG in Pa. there are billboards on the Pa. Turnpike with a picture of Gov. Wolf (Uncle Fester from the Adams family) and Rachel Levine(known as Cousin It) with a caption. Dont Blame Me I Voted for Wagner(the Republican candidate) Levine was widely known to have his/her mother in a Pa. nursing home and promptly moved her out of nursing home to a hotel for safety during the original months of the pandemic last year. So good for his/her mom and to hell for the rest of us right. One rule for them and ANOTHER rule for us Democratic Socialists wouldn’t be able to fool a lot of people except for the fact that they have the MSM on their side now. Trump was right. Thats why he got involved. If the Republican party doesn’t grow some teeth pretty soon the only alternative we will have is to leave it, follow Trump and create a third party with some balls and go after the Communist Democrats before everything is gone. Our leaders are failing us with some exceptions. If they were paid on a performance basis like in sales how many would still be working. Very few.
I attribute my sisters death in December to the fact that her personal physician would only see her by tele-visit. This was back in June of 2020. In July, I urged her to seek out another physician somewhere, anywhere, and she did, in July. He referred her to the Mayo clinic in Jacksonville, Florida, and after a through battery of tests, she was diagnosed with multiple myeloma. Could an earlier visit in person, in June, changed things? She lost her battle Christmas Eve.
I like the Tele doctor visits. Saves me from an hour trip to the city .i have had all tests and bloodwork done beforehand. . just another tool to use..
I work in a large health system with several rural hospitals. Telemedicine allows us to be able to treat patients at our rural hospitals much quicker than having to transfer them to a larger facility. AN example is neurology and infectious disease consults. If a patient shows up at a rural hospital with stroke like symptoms, a telemedicine consult could be done with a neurologist to determine what level of care the patients needs. Without telemedicine they would have to be transferred before being “seen” by a neurologist. For doctor’s visits, telemedicine is great for minor issues. This also helps patients who have limited transportation resources.
Simply put, I view telemedicine as an overpriced and lazy way to see or be seen by a doctor. I think that it is a shame that it has come to an “overpriced video” to be seen by a doctor.
It rates right up there with mail in voting.
Telemedicine lends itself well to some things such as consultations and I am open to it for those things. I don’t think it lends itself well for most things since they require accurate temperature, listening through a stethoscope, blood and urine samples, etc.
Virtual anything increases the amount of electromagnetic frequency radiation our bodies absorb causing illness as proven by studies of microwave transmission for over 40 years. Doctors are still not trained to recognize the symptoms because they look like that of COVID-19. Is that a virus? Or simply the results of an economy trying to supply wants and needs that reality says will kill us? On top of all that is overpopulation that world leaders have been trying to control for 100 years (China the most noted). Do keep your virtual anything to yourself. Get rid of 5G and above or all will suffer mutated viruses being masked as COVID.
It depends on the nature of the problem. My doctors know when to tell me when they need to see me
As a nurse, I see telemedicine as a horrible way of providing health care! It’s impossible to do a complete and accurate physical assessment over the phone or computer. A lot of important cues that reveal serious illness going on are missed. I consider it a form of malpractice, to be honest!
The ONLY reason I can see using telemedicine to discuss lab results, test results, or questions. It should absolutely not be used for the purposes of diagnosis and treatment if an in-person visit has not been done first.
Besides, the fear of dying from a virus with a 0.01% mortality rate is not a good reason to forgo necessary medical care. You have a much higher chance of dying from not being treated for a serious condition than you do from the Kung Flu.
I have done it twice which went very well as I had all my information in front of me to discuss my issues. However there are times it is necessary for the dr to actually see the patient and to get accurate blood pressure, pulse, and weight etc.
It has it’s places, a few. However, far better to go actually see your doctor and actually practice medicine.
I have not used a telemedicine visit, my wife was unable to travel without an ambulance and this made it possible for her to have regular doctor visits.
Just think of all the hackers who can listen in on your once-confidential doctor appointments. Privacy no longer exists, so expect Big Daddy Government to start BCCing itself in your video visits.
How much is charged for a tele visit?
I recently had an appointment with one of my many Doctors, this time required a prostrate exam. Just wondering how does that work with a Telemedicine visit? Is a web cam required? Who has to insert it for proper placement and optimal viewing me or my wife? Will my webcam still work after being covered with lube? Examining Minds just want to know!!
I feel the same way about telemedicine as I feel about the AMA in general…No, thank you!!
I only will do face to face visits. It’s important that I see my Doctor and he see me, I believe it is the person side of the visit that we both understand the problem that I came to his office for.
I go to the VA and was involved with their telemedicine program. I am diabetic and have high blood pressure. I took my blood pressure daily with a machine they gave me that communicated with them over a cell network. It also downloaded the readings for blood sugar and transmitted it to them daily. I thought that program worked very well.
I have one prescription, an estradiol patch. For a refill, it is fine but my husband has something more serious going on and it is a waste of time to do telemed.
Since I live in Alaska, where distances and weather can make traveling logistics time consuming and expensive, sometimes involving driving to an airport, taking a plane and or/a boat or even all three to go see a doctor, I’m all in for telemedicine. A combination of both telemedicine and actual in-person visits is absolutely the way to go. I include this as one of the positive spin-offs of Covid or the CCP Virus or whatever one wants to call it. Gimme that time saving grocery shopping service, telemedicine and the spin-off of getting more of our kids out of socialist-brainwashing public schools, and one can see the silver lining in what was a bad situation.
I could see telehealth visits for med refills or routine followup. In my opinion, it is much more qualitative to be examined, looked at, yes and even smelled. A personal picture is worth ten thousand words. I also see telehealth as a ripe potential to have your HIPPA privacy rights violated.
When contacted to ask if I’d be interested in doing a televisit over my scheduled visit a few hours later, I thought: ‘sure…save me from having to get dressed & drive a couple miles to his office..plus…I’m sure it would be cheaper, so I figured I’d give it a try…” To my dismay..after a total of about 7 minutes..keeping in mind about half that time was spent on technical issues (we could see each other but no audio!) Once that was resolved I was told my labs were good and that ended our visit! I’m thinking I just did my part in reducing a medical bill…Wrong. I was charged for a Level Four office visit totally over $200! I was stunned! But…
That’s not the end of this saga. Roughly TWO MONTHS lately, I received a call for a Follow-up visit. I explained I only see my PCP twice a year & was told ‘Oh after a telemedicine conference call, the doctor likes to see his patients THREE MONTHS LATER! ”
I am still in shock of what I consider is abuse /dare I say:”fraud”….but due to being a past long term employee of our small community hospital – all I feel comfortable doing is decline if ever asked again!
Assuming you’re relatively healthy, this is probably okay for short-term medical intervention. It is not, however, in my opinion, 100% reliable and responsible health care.
Over the last 10 years, I’ve had the distinct impression that physicians are welcoming socialized medicine, which I find completely baffling. We already know that (most) nurses, like teachers, have gone over to the Communists.
Can anyone explain to me why, after 8+ years of rigorous (hopefully) training, and hundreds of thousands of dollars, a physician would welcome government control of their income, their medical practice (dictating who will receive care, and what kind of care can be dispensed), and violation of their patients’ privacy?
They still charge FULL PRICE, but only give you a virtual visit. How is that not fraud?
dont have the software or know how. one dr did a phone appt. insurance wouldn’t pay so i refuse to do any of this crap. i have told my drs either make me a real appt or slide dates until they can.
I have a bladder infection and just need an antibiotic. I don’t need to see a doctor and risk getting Covid19 by going in. I’m in a very high risk group and prefer to stay as far away from all germs as possible. We did TeleMed, and the doctor let us pick up a clean-catch kit and bring it back to the lab. No contact visit. Picked up the antibiotics at the pharmacy window. It was great! I would do it again, even if there wasn’t a pandemic.
Many of my Dr. visits are just routine, such as getting a Rx refill. If I go into the office, the only difference is they check my weight, height, and BP. I do that at home before the Telmed visit so it works just fine. I LOVE it. So much easier and less intrusive. If I have a real problem, I would of course go in for an in person visit.
You’re kidding me, right? At best, it is a stop-gap for long term patients, updating prescriptions and reporting events.
Otherwise it is either lazy or sketchy, and not good medical practice. There is no substitute for face to face, hands on, with your doctor.
I hesitate to call this medicine. It sounds like something that would be approved under Obamination non-Care, especially for the non-productive elderly.
Doc hates it – end of story.
I am over 60 and have used telemedicine several times. Keep in mind, it can only be used for certain conditions. My first experience was when I had the flu. Feeling awful and had no interest in going to see the doctor. So nice to do this from my couch. Our insurance has a contract with Cleveland Clinic and the total cis $45.
We use the computer to have face-to-face video conferences with several of our doctors. This includes me, my wife, and my sister-in-law. We are all well over 70. We have purchased a blood pressure machine, so we weigh, take temperature, blood pressure, and I take my blood sugar, before a telemed. Then with sit down, go over the prelims with the nurse. Then we have a face-to-face with the doctor.
For me, it is much easier than going out and traveling to a doctor, since I am also a cancer patient and very weak. There are some visits that I have to make in-person that leave me exhausted.
I believe for many visits, telemed will be the future of medicine. It will reduce costs, travel time for patients, and be more convenient. Like all changes, some will be uncomfortable with it, at first. But we all will adjust. Younger people and those of us that are more tech savy will adjust easier.
This may work for some stuff but doctors may find other problems when they have visual on the whole you. Plus some can actually do better when you are sitting across the table from them. Plus its impossible to do lab work with this system.
The big issue is any minor office tests that can be done for a diagnosis. Can’t do that stuff in a televisit. It’s okay for very minor consultations but little else.
My Doctor has not touched me in years. He comes in with his laptop, shows me a picture of what I’m talking about and asks, “Is this what it looks like?” Since I’m healthy I put up with this. You better start liking telemedicine because as with so many other negative consequences of The Virus, it will be the bew normal.
My wife and I were talking this morning before I saw this about how sorry we are for seniors trying to register for a Covid vaccine. If you call and are hard of hearing or try to register on line and aren’t computer savvy better hope you have someone who will do it for you. Try having a doctor visit is just as bad by phone.