What Is Telehealth and How to Use?

What Is Telehealth and How to Use?

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Telehealth is the use of electronic information and telecommunications technologies to support long-distance clinical health care and patient and professional health-related education. Telehealth allows you to have a virtual visit with a provider using live video conferencing on your computer, tablet or smartphone.

How does Telehealth work?

A Telehealth visit is conducted using live video conferencing. This allows you and your provider to see and hear each other in real time. You will be able to communicate just as you would during an in-person visit.

What are the benefits of Telehealth?

There are many benefits of Telehealth, including:

  • Convenient access to care: You can have a Telehealth visit from the comfort of your own home or office.
  • Improved access to care for rural and underserved populations: Telehealth can help to close the gap in access to care for rural and underserved populations.
  • Reduced costs: Telehealth can help to reduce the costs of travel and missed work days.
  • Improved access to specialist care: Telehealth can improve access to specialist care by eliminating the need to travel long distances.

What are the risks of Telehealth?

There are risks associated with any type of medical care, including Telehealth. These risks include, but are not limited to, the potential for:

  • Incorrect diagnosis: A provider may not be able to make a correct diagnosis without a physical examination.
  • Delayed treatment: A delay in treatment can occur if a provider is not able to make a correct diagnosis.
  • Incorrect or delayed prescriptions: A provider may not be able to prescribe the correct medication or may not be able to do so in a timely manner.
  • Privacy and security risks: There is a potential for privacy and security risks with the use of any electronic information and telecommunications technology.

Step-by-Step Guide on How to Use Telehealth

  1. Schedule an appointment with your healthcare provider as you would for an in-person visit.
  2. At your appointment time, log into your patient portal or the telehealth platform your provider is using.
  3. Follow your provider’s instructions for connecting to the video visit.
  4. Once you are connected, your provider will ask you questions about your health and will work with you to create a plan for your care.