Telehealth: Don’t be Camera Shy

Now is not the time to be camera shy, especially if your physician suggests doing your next medical visit via video conference. As adjustments are made to healthcare delivery in response to the outbreak of COVID-19, you may be hearing the term ‘telehealth’ a lot in the news. A Mayo Clinic video offers a glimpse of telehealth from the patient and provider perspective.

So, what is telehealth? It is a medical visit that is done using video conferencing over the internet. Medical providers use telecommunications technology to connect with a patient and evaluate, diagnose and care for them from a distance. What technology does the patient need for a telehealth visit? You need a smartphone, tablet or personal computer with a webcam and an internet connection. During the COVID public health emergency, telehealth visits can occur in a variety of locations. Your physician could be in the office and you could be at home during the visit or if you’re away from home (perhaps staying with a loved one during the crisis) you can connect via telehealth with your trusted health care team that knows your unique health history. Why is telehealth good for patients? Telehealth enables access to providers from the safety of the patient’s home. There’s no chance that you’ll be exposed to COVID-19 or catch something from another patient during a video visit with your physician. Of course not every medical situation is right for a telehealth visit; your care team will let you know when it is safe and effective to conduct an encounter via a video visit.