- Although many industries have suffered
during the COVID-19 pandemic,
telemedicine is one sector
that is seeing a huge surge of interest right now.
The demand for virtual doctor's appointments
has been growing as lockdowns
in many states have forced doctors offices
to be a bit more limited about their patient intake
and experience and as people continue to stay at home.
So what exactly is telemedicine?
Does health insurance cover it?
Do all doctors officers offer telemedicine?
How do I know if telemedicine is right for me?
Are there downsides?
Today I'm gonna go over all of that.
(heartbeat thumping)
What is telemedicine?
Think about it this way.
Telemedicine is kind of like teleporting your doctor
into the comfort of your own home.
No, it's not as creepy as it sounds.
Telemedicine involves the use of electronic communications
and software to provide clinical services
to patients without an in person, hospital or office visit.
Hey everyone, I'm Dr. Jordan Wagner.
I'm a board certified emergency medicine physician.
And on my show,
I answer your urgent medical questions
and clear up myths about certain deadly diseases.
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Whether it be through a Skype or FaceTime type video call
or interacting with a doctor
via online messenger or regular phone call,
telemedicine is the opportunity
for you to ask a doctor questions, refill medications,
and get one-on-one care
without leaving the comfort of your own home.
Although you can't have surgery online
or over the telephone,
telemedicine technology is used for followup visits,
management of chronic conditions,
medication management, specialist consultation,
and a variety of other clinical services
that can be provided remotely
via a secure video and audio connections.
So what are the patient benefits to telemedicine?
Well, because of telemedicine,
patients who previously had limited access
to healthcare services can now have access
to a physician without leaving their home
as mentioned before,
thus the spread of contagious illnesses
is reduced as patients don't have
to expose others in crowded waiting rooms
with whatever their potential ailment might be.
And beyond that,
telemedicine also benefits patients in other ways, too.
Number one, transportation issues.
Patients get the luxury of avoiding spending gas money,
time in traffic, or hauling a subway downtown
in order to pay their doctor a visit.
These hurdles don't exist with telemedicine.
Number two, not missing work or school.
Today, patients can schedule a consultation
during a lunch break,
or even after hours with some telemedicine services.
Number three, childcare and eldercare challenges.
For those who struggle to find care options
for their at-home loved ones,
telemedicine offers the solution
to your stay at home care needs.
There are a number
of financial benefits with telemedicine as well.
Typically, the cost of treatment is overall cheaper,
therefore resulting in a less out
of pocket experience for you, the patient.
Large insurance companies
such as Blue Cross Blue Shield
and Aetna are benefiting from telemedicine too.
For example, patients with substance abuse disorders
who are treated using various telemedicine strategies
provide cost savings for payers.
Telemedicine laws vary state by state in the United States.
There are currently 29 states
with telemedicine parity laws.
These parity laws require patients
to reimburse in the same way they would
for an in person doctor's visit.
As additional states, adopt parity laws,
private payers may institute more guidelines
and restrictions for telemedicine services.
Although it's a step in the right direction,
there still can be a lot
of uncertainty regarding reimbursement rates,
billing procedures, and more.
As technology continues to improve,
the cost savings will become more visible.
Check your insurance plan
to find out what's covered under telemedicine services,
including your doctor
and urgent care plus copays and other fees.
Now, what are the cons
or the negatives against telemedicine?
Telemedicine cannot completely replace
an in-person doctor's visit.
You can't have surgery and some procedures online,
as I mentioned before, but conversely,
your surgeon could potentially use telemedicine
to check how you're healing
and save you an in-person trip to the doctor's office.
Sometimes an in-person exam
is the only way
for a doctor to be sure about your diagnosis.
Also because technology is growing
at such a fast pace,
it's been difficult for healthcare insurance companies
and policy makers to keep up with the industry.
There is already a great deal
of concern regarding matters like reimbursement policies,
privacy protection, and healthcare laws.
So if telemedicine is right for you?
First and foremost, consult with your healthcare provider
to see if your medical need
or ailment is a right fit for telemedicine services.
If it's a matter of refilling a prescription
or a followup or a wellness check,
this could be a viable option for you.
You can use real time video visits
with doctors to share home readings
like blood pressure or blood sugar levels
and other ongoing needs
with this type of telemedicine service.
However, if this is something more life threatening
or unusual with your life pattern,
make sure you consult with your doctor
or call emergency services immediately.
And don't wait around to schedule a tele wellness checkup.
All right, that's been
a five minute telemedicine conversation with me, Dr. Wagner,
let me know in the comments
if you have any other medical questions
that you'd like me to answer.
As always, make sure you subscribe
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Thank you so much for watching, stay healthy my friends.