Struggles to get to the clinic? Trying to reduce your exposure to COVID-19, as well as other contagious illnesses, and still need to see your doctor? Telehealth is safe and easy — receive quality care from anywhere.
The COVID-19 pandemic has triggered dramatic changes throughout everyday life — and in the medical community as well. Not only are providers across the country postponing elective procedures, but many are also encouraging people to avoid in-office appointments to reduce their risk of exposure to this highly contagious coronavirus.
But what do you do if you still need health care? Fortunately, Telehealth can help.
How Telehealth works
Telehealth — or telemedicine — is a healthcare solution that allows you to meet with your doctor virtually instead of going to the office. Our 100% HIPAA-compliant system uses a two-way, high definition video, so we can talk face-to-face as if we’re in the same room together.
With Telehealth, you can also:
- Submit your medication list, allergies, ID cards, and medical history in advance
- Chat or share photos describing your symptoms
- Have prescriptions electronically sent to your pharmacy
- Securely pay online for your virtual visit
This streamlined approach originally evolved to help expand medical care to men, women, and children living in remote areas. Today, 76% of hospitals use Telehealth technology, and US employers could save as much as $6 billion a year by making telemedicine technology available to their employees. But the advantages of Telehealth go far beyond financial savings.
The benefits of telemedicine
Whether you live close to your doctor or in a rural area, you probably know firsthand that even a routine visit involves wait times of 18 minutes or longer — and that doesn’t even include the time you spend getting there. Telehealth technology eliminates that.
By connecting to your doctor in a virtual setting, you can expect to:
- Miss less time at work
- Have fewer disruptions with any child or elder care responsibilities
- Eliminate the time or travel expenses associated with your office visit
- Receive quality health care faster
- Reduce subjecting yourself and others to a contagious illness
At the same time, you also reduce your risk of exposure to contagious illnesses, like the common cold, flu, and COVID-19.
Telemedicine is also available to patients of all ages, including children, older adults, and those in vulnerable health. That makes it an ideal healthcare solution for everyone, especially when someone can no longer leave their home safely but still requires medical attention.
What to expect during a Telehealth appointment
Telemedicine technology has never been easier to use, simply:
- Download our app to your tablet, computer, or phone
- Request an appointment through our Telehealth portal
- Fill out the registration forms included in our calendar invite
- Follow the link in your calendar invite to open your video-chat to start your appointment
You can also upload photos, if needed, to help us diagnose your symptoms.
For more information on telemedicine or to schedule your virtual visit, contact us by calling or requesting your Telehealth appointment online today.
Gynecology and COVID19: What You Should Know
As COVID-19 continues to spread, we don’t want you to miss out on important health care. Here’s a look at how you can continue to maintain your reproductive health through our telehealth services.
The world has been turned upside down because of the COVID-19 crisis, and a new normal has settled in. As you find new ways to have your needs met, one area that you may have neglected during these past months is your reproductive health and wellness.
Here at our practice, Dr. Amy Bruner and our team want to ensure that our patients continue to receive the gynecologic care they need.
Just because there’s a more pressing health care concern — the novel coronavirus — it doesn’t mean your other health issues should take a back seat. To that end, we offer telehealth services, which allow us to monitor your health and wellness from afar.
Here’s a look at how we’re answering the call during the COVID-19 crisis.
Care when you need it
Thanks to the COVID-19 pandemic, many health care providers, including our practice, are offering virtual visits to minimize risks while providing the same top-notch care.
Thanks to technology, telehealth is an incredibly viable alternative to an office visit. We can use two-way video conferencing to review your gynecologic health when an in-person visit is not necessary.
Our telehealth services are fully HIPAA-compliant, and they can be conducted using your smartphone, computer, or tablet.
All you need to do beforehand is to register through our patient portal. During this registration process, we collect all of the necessary information, including your symptoms, and then we schedule your visit.
During your virtual visit, we review your concerns, share photos, and discuss treatment options. For example, telehealth is a great way to manage your prescriptions and make any necessary tweaks we deem necessary.
If you do have a health care concern that requires us to take an in-person look, we can make those arrangements during your telehealth visit.
Understanding the symptoms of COVID-19
If you do need to make an in-office visit, it’s important that you monitor your health before you come in for everyone’s safety.
While we understand that the symptoms are widely known, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has made some new additions, so we thought we’d quickly review what you should be on the lookout for:
- Fever or chills
- Cough
- Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing
- Fatigue
- Muscle or body aches
- Headache
- New loss of taste or smell
- Sore throat
- Congestion or runny nose
- Nausea or vomiting
- Diarrhea
If you’re experiencing any of these symptoms, call your primary care doctor to determine your next steps. And we do ask that you avoid coming into our office (or going anywhere else, for that matter) until you’re clear.If you’d like to schedule your telehealth visit with us, contact our office in Beaverton, Oregon, so we can make sure your health care needs are met.
