Telemedicine offers patients new options
Q: When my daughter came down with pink eye, I downloaded a local hospital’s app and wow! We got to see a doctor online; he diagnosed her problem and called in a prescription to our pharmacy. So who else is doing this, and what other conditions can I use this for?
— Holly W., Warrensville
Heights, Ohio A: It’s pretty great, isn’t it? More and more people every day are getting comfortable with telemedicine. Now you can see a doctor in the privacy of your own home on your phone, tablet or laptop. Video consults run from $0 to more than $100, depending on your insurance. Both Dr. Mike’s Cleveland Clinic and Dr. Oz’s New YorkPresbyterian Hospital have their own apps, and new programs and applications across the country pop up every day.
You can use telemedicine for non-life threatening illnesses that range from conjunctivitis (pink eye) and respiratory issues to minor cuts and burns or stomach upsets. In fact, Dr. Mike was one of the first to use telemedicine for smoking cessation, diet and exercise.
Another impressive development is happening in Washington state. Veteran suicides happen at a rate of 20 a day, and 14 of those are never seen by the Veteran’s Affairs hospitals. The Cohen Veterans Network of clinics (there are seven around the country providing outpatient mental health care to veterans and military families) soon will offer low- or no-cost telehealth mental health services across Washington state and then in Florida and California — very needed and smart! Telemedicine is also a huge benefit for folks in rural communities who have a difficult time getting to a doctor or accessing a specialist. Folks can find a telemedicine service by contacting their insurance company (some have their own service) or local medical centers.