Follow
Numerous individuals have reported getting a doctor or a qualified healthcare specialist diagnose them through the use of videoconferencing online and prescribe them medication that treated them. The people claimed they prefer this method rather than going to hospitals and care clinics where they would end up wasting a lot of time waiting and paying a lot more for the services provided.
For example, Jessica DeVisser, a 35-year-old woman turned towards telemedicine when she experienced a painful and puffy face. She used her computer to enter her credit card information and her symptoms and received a medical consultation online. A doctor took a look at her by using Skype and asked several questions about her condition. The doctor concluded that the woman had sinusitis and gave her antibiotics which she then picked up at a nearby pharmacy.
DeVisser said that she fears going to the doctor as it takes a lot of her precious time and that this experience felt empowering to her because it’s easy to just click on a button and have a doctor look at you.
Another great example is Hope Sickmeier, a 51-year-old fourth-grade teacher from Ashland, who had a horrific toothache that didn’t go away and just kept getting worse. The woman used her iPad and requested a telemedicine consultation from a doctor after downloading the app necessary for it. A doctor then appeared on the screen of her tablet and Sickmeier simply held it up in order for the doctor to see the painful tooth and the swelling in her jaw. Sickmeier said that she was in such awful pain that it didn’t matter to her how weird it looked. The doctor got right to the point and prescribed her with antibiotics which she then picked up at a pharmacy 20 minutes away from her home.
These virtual consultations may be done via FaceTime, Skype or other online tools. A doctor examines the patients and after offering them with a diagnosis the doctor prescribes them medicine that they can pick up without having to visit a real hospital where the patients spend a lot more money and end up wasting time. For example, Sickmeier visited a clinic for a migraine and ended up owing the clinic $200. This was just a week before she decided to seek medical help online.
However, many doctors believe that a face-to-face consultation is more effective as they get to touch and get a real good look at the patient. The doctors who are against this practice and the fact that telemedicine gains momentum believe that this could lead to a lot of misdiagnosis and incidents.
Image Source: wispivas.com
