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pharmacy to those who need to have their prescriptions says. Still, play it safe by asking your health care pro-
filled and delivered. vider or their office staff about coverage before you
schedule an appointment, or what the total cost will be.

What happens during a telemedicine appointment?

During a telehealth consultation, Dr. Brightman asks
her patients questions about their medical history and
current symptoms to decide the best course of treat-
ment. She never asks a patient to disrobe, but they can
send her a photo (without any identifiers) if they are
concerned about a visible finding. “This can help me
make a diagnosis and work out whether or not it can be
treated remotely or requires an office visit. “Typically,
nobody else is present when I host a telemedicine vis-
it,” she adds.

If she decides that a patient needs an exam, she encour-
ages them to come to the office, where all precautions
What do I need to do telemedicine appointments? have been taken regarding social distancing, hand hy-
giene, and personal protective equipment (PPE) where
If you’re happy with a phone consultation, all you need is appropriate.
What new features will the May 2020 update include?
a phone. If you’d prefer a face-to-face consultation, you’ll
need a smartphone, tablet, or a computer with a webcam. Dr. Kunen starts a Zoom consultation by asking her
To ensure a positive, productive telemedicine experience, patient what their chief concern is. She then examines
Dr. Levy says the most important thing is to check your their teeth and analyzes their bite before providing a
WiFi is working properly. “One of the biggest issues is an diagnosis. “I explain the Invisalign product and process
appointment being sidetracked or ultimately cancelled due to the patient and answer any questions they may
to poor WiFi connectivity,” he says. have,” she says. After the consultation, the practice’s
treatment coordinator contacts the patient to discuss
Just as you have a private, quiet space when you meet with financials and the next steps.
your health care provider in their office, it’s a good idea to
do the same at home. Dr. Levy suggests a well-lit space Can my partner or friend listen in for support?
where you’re not likely to be disturbed. On that note, it’s a
good idea to let others in your home know ahead of time It’s absolutely fine if you want your partner, family
that you’ll be unavailable during your appointment time member, or roommate to be present during your tele-
frame. health appointment. “I have had several telemedicine
appointments with young teens who have wanted their
Any other preparation, such as checking your weight or moms present during the visit,” says Dr. Brightman.
your temperature, really depends on the specific health “Having a family member present can also be helpful
questions you have. To give your doctor an accurate health when it comes to obtaining a family history or review-
history, take note of any symptoms and their duration, ing a course of treatment.”
Kevin Ban, MD, chief medical officer at Walgreens,
tells Health. Dr. Kunen always encourages her patients to invite a
friend or family member to be present. “I want consul-
Do all insurance companies cover it? tations to be fun and comfortable, whether they’re done
in person or virtually,” she says.
Not necessarily. “As telehealth has become even more
critical to help address medical needs during the corona- When should I stick with an IRL visit?
virus outbreak, the government, health plans, and provid-
ers have begun instituting new policies and technological “Telemedicine can support many acute care needs and
advances to make it more accessible to patients across the illnesses, but it’s not appropriate in some circumstanc-
nation,” says Dr. Ban. For instance, the federal govern- es,” says Dr. Ban. “For example, patients can’t undergo
ment recently passed legislation expanding the availability procedures or receive imaging tests remotely.” And
of services provided through telehealth under Medicare. telemedicine is never a replacement for an in-person
appointment for patients who are extremely ill and re-
When you call the doctor’s office to make or confirm an quire urgent medical attention, or who have symptoms
appointment date and time, staff will verify your insur- that could indicate a serious and urgent issue.
ance, make any necessary updates and, if applicable, take
payment for your co-pay over the phone, Dr. Levy

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