Why Virtual Care for You and Your Family Is a Lifesaver

Since the pandemic, virtual care has become one of the safest and most efficient ways for patients to get the care they need. Telehealth use has exploded, with providers seeing 50 to 175 times the number of patients virtually than they did before the pandemic.

Providers have found that patients largely prefer telehealth visits because of the convenience they offer. This approach improves the delivery of care and reduces cancellations significantly. Why? Telemedicine enables patients to receive care at times that work best for them. No travel time means no time away from work or family, so people are more likely to show up and keep the appointments they make.

Given the fact that 83% of patients will likely still rely on virtual care after the pandemic, now is a good time to consider how telehealth can work for you and your family.

Telehealth: What You Need to Know

Before learning about your telehealth options, there are a few misconceptions about virtual care that we should address.

First, many people assume that telehealth providers are anonymous healthcare workers rather than the qualified doctors they’d see in an office. Telehealth providers are the exact same physicians that patients would see during in-person visits. All of them are vetted and hold the same licenses and certifications you’d expect.

Many patients also mistakenly worry their information isn’t secure when they use virtual care. While concerns about the security of your medical information are understandable, know that telemedicine providers don’t use Skype or FaceTime during patient visits. They use technologies designed to comply with HIPAA privacy policies and take proper precautions with patient information.

Beyond these misconceptions, you’ll also want to know some key benefits of virtual care. Telehealth offers more than just primary care visits; urgent care services and even specialists offer virtual appointments. For someone who requires ongoing medical attention and regular visits, telehealth can also be used consistently at greater convenience and at a lower cost than in-person care.

Whatever your healthcare need, telehealth may offer a solution. A recent survey of patients revealed that they use telemedicine for a variety of reasons, including allergy issues, preventative care, behavioral health, and more.

Vetting Telehealth Providers and Knowing When to Use Telehealth

Before you set up a telehealth appointment, you’ll want to research virtual care options to find one that best suits you and your family’s needs. This requires vetting telehealth providers and talking with your doctor to see which options are available. If they don’t have any recommendations or you currently don’t have a provider, follow these steps:

1. Ensure your insurance covers the virtual care provider.

To determine whether your health insurance plan covers virtual care, call your health insurance company. Representatives will be able to confirm your coverage and answer any questions you have about pricing. If you don’t have insurance — or if your insurance does not cover telemedicine — there are solutions to help you access virtual care at an affordable monthly cost, such as Health Karma’s Virtual Primary Care subscription plan.

2. Find out whether your medications can be prescribed through telehealth.

The Drug Enforcement Administration permits authorized providers to prescribe even controlled substances to patients via telemedicine. It’s still important to ask your provider how they handle prescriptions, though, because therapists usually can’t prescribe medications. Although licensed therapists will not prescribe medications via teletherapy, you might be able to receive prescriptions if you use telepsychiatry (for ages 18 and up).

3. Ask questions to determine your provider’s experience and qualifications.

Whether you get a recommendation from your primary care doctor, a friend, or your insurance company, finding out about your telehealth provider’s background and training can help you feel comfortable with your choice. There are a number of questions you can ask: “How long have you worked in this field?” “How does the type of treatment you offer work?” A virtual care provider should be able to detail their professional training and help you determine whether they meet your needs.

Telehealth services are offered with patients’ needs in mind, and there are plenty of options for you and your family to explore. Do your research to find out which providers work best for you. Telehealth boomed during the pandemic, and it’s not going anywhere. Explore your options and find out how you and your family can benefit from virtual care.

At Health Karma, we believe good healthcare starts with understanding it. If you are interested in learning more about virtual care, check out our blog post on how to prepare for your first virtual care visit.