Access To Care From The Comfort Of Your Own Home

A doctor’s visit through your phone or computer? Coming right up!

Who would have thought that in a split second the ways we provide healthcare to the masses could change so dramatically? With the onset of Covid-19, hospitals and physician practices had to adjust quickly and adapt their processes to provide uninterrupted care to their patients while practicing social distancing. One way Carson Tahoe, among other national healthcare providers, adapted was through the use of telemedicine. With Telemedicine, providers can ‘see’ patients for routine check-ups, including medication refills – without having them come to the office.

Monitoring a patient’s health remotely introduces a new level of convenience for both patients and providers. Telemedicine can serve to enhance traditional face-to-face medicine and can complement regular doctor visits. In times like today when ‘social distancing’ is required, telemedicine has allowed patients to stay on top of their health without having to enter medical facilities, minimizing their risk of contracting the virus. Although some patients with complicated conditions may still need to be seen in-person, many routine follow-up visits can be done through telemedicine.

Believe it or not, telemedicine has been around since the 1950’s when a few hospitals started to share information via telephone. In the beginning, telehealth was used mostly to connect specialists with patients who lived in rural areas. With the rise of internet accessibility and most recently, the fear of contracting COVID-19, more people are turning to telemedicine for their medical care.

Don’t worry if you’re not techy. Accessing telemedicine is easy, even for the technologically challenged. Once you’ve tried it, you will be a fan and, these days, the average telemedicine “visit” runs about 15-20 minutes.

What are the potential benefits of choosing a telemedicine visit over an in-person visit?

• Quicker access to your provider
• No need for a babysitter
• Save time by not traveling to and from the doctor’s office
• Avoid exposure to other potentially contagious patients
• Take care of your health from the comfort of your own home

Carson Tahoe’s telemedicine opportunities include:

• Annual wellness visits
• Routine health problems
• New patient appointments, depending on acuity
• Routine follow-up appointments
• Individual nutritional counseling services
• Medication refills
• Individual Diabetes Education appointments

Carson Tahoe also believes that a strong body starts with a strong mind, so Carson Tahoe’s outpatient Behavior Health Services have also expanded in several areas to provide telemedicine care opportunities for:

• One on one therapy appointments
• Group therapy
• Psychiatry

What is a Zoom Conference?

Zoom is a cloud-based video conferencing service you can use to virtually meet with others – either by video or audio-only or both. Go to Zoom.com to learn more, or access specific instructions on how to “attend” a meeting here.

What about Insurance?

Telemedicine visits are covered by most insurances as well as Medicare. It is the wave of the future and is here to stay.

If the provider feels you should be seen in person for your specific care needs, they will arrange an in-office face-to-face appointment. If you are interested, simply call your provider’s office and ask for a telemedicine appointment. Appointments take place via Zoom conference or phone call.