The lockdowns forced by the COVID-19 pandemic changed everything, including work-from-home employment and how medical services are provided. Telemedicine helped maintain health services in the absence of office visits, and it continues today.
Telemedicine came to the forefront during the Covid-19 lockdowns beginning in 2020.
As telemedicine continues to move into the mainstream, it represents a fundamental change how people access medical services. While there are many advantages, many people still wonder if something has been lost compared with in-person doctor visits.
At New Tampa Interventional Pain & Sports Medicine, located in Wesley Chapel, Florida, we understand those concerns. That said, we want you to understand that telemedicine offers an improved delivery model for medical care, and here’s why.
For those who haven’t yet experienced a telemedicine appointment, let’s review how the idea works. You’ll make an appointment in the same way you always have, though now you may have an option to choose an office visit or a telemedicine consultation, usually in the form of a video call from a computer or smartphone.
During your appointment, our providers connect with you through a secure system that uses electronically protected health information, or ePHI. Described in the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (HIPAA), ePHI is a management protocol used to ensure patient privacy in remote health care services.
Once you’re connected, your appointment proceeds much like an office visit. You’ll relate your health concerns, and our team asks questions related to that concern. We’ll discuss symptoms, health history, changes in your life, and anything else that might be pertinent to your call.
You won’t use a virtual appointment for something like a broken bone or cut.
Likewise, our team can’t palpate your body to locate tender spots or growths. In cases like this, telemedicine serves as a form of virtual triage, assessing likely causes and urgency ahead of in-person treatment.
In many cases, a telemedicine appointment saves you travel time getting to our office as well as any time in the waiting room. Other benefits include:
Telemedicine doesn’t eliminate in-person medical visits. Instead, it manages time for both patients and practitioners. We embrace this addition to our practice, and we know it provides our patients with an improved level of care. We’re confident you’ll enjoy the convenience. Call or click to request a telemedicine appointment.