I’m Technically Challenged: Can Telemedicine Work for Me?

The internet has transformed the way we live our lives, with impacts on our work, education, and even our shopping habits. It shouldn’t come as any surprise, then, that the internet is also having a profound effect on the way we receive healthcare, using state-of-the-art telemedicine to help us get the care and treatment we need when and where it’s most convenient for us.

At Minit Medical Urgent Care and Physical Therapy in Kihei, Kahului, and Lahaina, Hawaii, our team understands the benefits telemedicine offers to our patients, enabling us to provide care that improves our patients’ health and quality of life. If you feel intimidated by telemedicine and all it involves, this quick blog post can set your mind at ease.

Telemedicine 101

Telemedicine is designed to provide care using your own computer, tablet, or smartphone in an environment where you feel comfortable and secure. Our team connects with you over the internet via a secure connection, providing one-on-one care and treatment without the need to travel to our location.

Although telemedicine soared in popularity during the pandemic, its initial goal was to provide top-quality medical care to people in underserved areas, like rural locations where healthcare resources are limited. Today, telemedicine offers its benefits to people in all sorts of locales, including highly-populated areas like major cities.

Our team uses telemedicine to deliver the same high-quality care you’d receive on site, diagnosing and treating acute illnesses and also providing ongoing management of chronic diseases and disorders, like diabetes, high blood pressure, and arthritis. Plus, our team can prescribe or refill medications and recommend on-site services, like diagnostic imaging or lab testing, as needed.

Telemedicine offers a wealth of benefits, including improved convenience and efficiency by eliminating the need to travel and spend time in a waiting room. It also avoids the risk of “picking up” an illness from another patient, and prevents you from taking time off from work or school simply to seek medical care.

Your telemedicine visit: What to expect

The technology telemedicine uses to deliver care confidentially and securely is definitely complex on the back end — but from a user perspective, it couldn’t be simpler. To get started, simply call our office or use our online booking tool to schedule a visit. 

The day of your visit, make sure you have a stable internet connection in a quiet, private area, and connect to the internet about 10-15 minutes prior to your scheduled appointment time. Our telemedicine system is HIPAA compliant, which means it adheres to stringent privacy guidelines to keep your information safe, private, and secure. 

Make sure your camera, microphone, and speaker are all working. You’ll use these features to interact with your provider. Check your email for a secure link from our office. You’ll click on this link (and follow any other instructions) when it’s time for your visit. If you have any problems connecting, or if there are instructions you don’t understand, give us a call and we’ll help you get set up.

During your telemedicine visit, your provider asks about your symptoms, reviews your medical history, and uses your camera to examine you if necessary. For instance, if you have a sore throat, your provider may ask you to open your mouth and aim your camera at the back of your throat so they can look for redness or other signs of illness.

You’ll have plenty of time with your provider to discuss your concerns and ask questions, too. Once your visit is complete, our office may send follow-up forms or instructions for additional testing, if needed.

Get care where and when you need it

Telemedicine can be a great option for many acute and chronic medical issues, but it’s not always the ideal choice for helping you stay well. If you’re not sure if a telemedicine visit is right for your needs, give us a call and we can help you decide if an in-person visit is a better choice. 

To learn more about telemedicine and how it can play a role in your wellness plan, book an appointment online or over the phone with Minit Medical Urgent Care and Physical Therapy in Kihei, Kahului, and Lahaina, Hawaii, today.