Telehealth

Telehealth makes it possible to receive diagnoses and treatment for both acute and chronic health problems from the comfort of your own home. If you lead a busy lifestyle, live in a rural area, or worry about exposure to others who might be sick, schedule a telehealth appointment at Medical Access today. Call the nearest location in Germantown, Maryland, or in Alexandria and Woodbridge, Virginia, or book a consultation online.

What is telehealth?

Telehealth uses modern communications technology, such as web cameras, smartphones, and tablets, to exchange medical information online. It allows patients of all ages to meet with a medical professional from anywhere in the world. 

Over the course of the last decade, telehealth has become increasingly popular, but it’s been around for more than 50 years. In the late 1950s and early 1960s, the Nebraska Psychiatric Institute pioneered telehealth for patient consultations using closed-circuit television (CCTV). 

What services does telehealth provide?

Medical Access offers various services using telehealth, including:

• Diagnosis and treatment of acute and chronic illness
• Review of diagnostic images, including X-rays and ultrasounds
• Post-surgical follow-ups
• Workers’ compensation appointments
• Review of laboratory tests and preventive screenings
• Prescription refills

If you’re undergoing treatment for a specific health problem, you can also attend follow-up appointments via telehealth. Regularly communicating with your doctor is one of the easiest and most effective ways to improve your health over time. 

What are the advantages of telehealth?

Telehealth offers many advantages. For one, it makes it possible to meet with doctors and medical specialists who you might not have access to otherwise. Many physicians have busy schedules booked far in advance. Telehealth makes it possible to meet with them from anywhere, including your home or office.

Additionally, when you make a telehealth appointment, there’s no need to take time off work or battle traffic. If you have kids at home or an elderly loved one, you don’t have to worry about making other care arrangements. Lastly, when you participate in telehealth, you don’t have to sit in a waiting room or potentially expose yourself to others who might be sick. 

What can I expect at a telehealth appointment?

No two telehealth appointments are exactly alike. Medical Access tailors treatment based on your health history and individual needs. That said, most online consultations follow a basic structure. First, your provider reviews your medical history and asks about your symptoms and lifestyle. 

Next, they conduct a physical exam. If you have a sore throat, watery eyes, or congestion, your provider might ask you to open your mouth and point your camera in a specific direction. 

If you have a stomach ache or heartburn, they might ask you to gently palpate your abdomen and report back what you feel. Your provider uses the information you provide to guide the appointment and ultimately, treatment.

If your telehealth appointment is to discuss the results of lab tests or diagnostic imaging, your provider might upload the results and do a screen share. This enables you to better understand the information provided. Most telehealth appointments last 30-45 minutes. If you have any questions during the consultation, don’t hesitate to speak up.

To learn more about the benefits of telehealth, schedule an appointment at Medical Access. Call the nearest office today, or book a consultation online.