Virtual Doctor's Visits - Do/Would You Use Them?

[kyphysics]

My insurance plan allows these, but I've never used one.

I'm wondering if anyone has considered (or maybe already has) partaking in telehealth? If so, I have some questions:

a.) Are there particular types of doctor's visits you would tend to use tele-visits for vs. in-person (notwithstanding the super, super obvious - like an emergency)?

b.) Aside from maybe saving some gas/time and/or avoiding something like COVID - is there any reason why you'd WANT to use it? I don't understand why it would be an advantage over in-person visits - on average - if we (as patients/humans) need to get stuff measured frequently that would need a nurse and/or lab work to get results for and when it could be helpful to have a doctor "feel" you physically (like checking for lumps or other abnormalities). . .basically, it seems I'd be giving up some medical advantages in a trade-off for time/gas/COVID (or some other bug) avoidance. But, I can easily schedule a doctor's visit in with chores along the way or read a book while waiting, etc.

Any thoughts on telehealth in general and/or my questions above? I'm always thankful for the convenience of technology, but this is an area I'm not sure I'm getting anything that great in return for and just wondering what others think.

 

[BillTre]

My wife has used tele-medicine for preliminary consultations before going in for a real exam.
Also for a quick update on how a treatment is going.
This amounts to doing something in a quick easy way, but is pretty limited compared to a full visit.

 

[hutchphd]

My last COVID friendly annual consisted of a blood draw (all done very pandemic aware) and a teleconference a week later. I was very pleased with the process, but I am pretty healthy for an old guy. I note that the laying on of hands has become less and less prevalent even before COVID 19

 

[kyphysics]

I can see how maybe a follow-up visit (where there's nothing wrong and everything seems "healed") for a medical issue might be a good opportunity to try telehealth. That makes sense and would be something I'd be willing to do.

 

[Planobilly]

Way before the advent of the internet, calling a doctor or having a doctor call was common place. The ability for the doctor to visually see someone over the internet does not add very much in my opinion. For many things good medical triage can be done using telemedicine. It has it's uses. It can be very useful in crises management of unstable individuals. It can many times answer the question of do I need to see a doctor and how soon.

I have used it on occasion to ask technical question about certain signs and symptoms. The results were not impressive. I often find I have more information about my own issues than the doctor has. It is easy to become an expert on the one drug that you take or the one condition you have.

Being responsible for your own health is not that common of a mindset. It is for me and I use doctors as highly skilled consultants but I make the final decision as to what action to take. I never take a prescription medication without studding it fully.

Telemedicine is also pretty limited in what doctors can prescribe or what subjects they will will discuss. Only pretty simple questions will be answered.

There is always the question of the qualifications of the person you are talking too. DR? PA? Specialist?

If you want high quality medical advice on demand in the USA put a good MD on retainer.

Billy