How to find the right balance between telemedicine and in-person care

Thanks to telemedicine, patients can now visit a variety of doctors without leaving the comfort of their couch. But that doesn’t mean the trips to the office have to end.

Finding the right balance between virtual and in-person visits can be a key to receiving good care.

Here you can read what you need to know about which form of care is suitable for you and when.

WHAT IS TELEMEDICINE?

This usually involves diagnosing and treating patients remotely. It is often done via a secure video connection from the doctor’s practice. You can use your smartphone, tablet or computer.

But telemedicine can also involve making phone calls or exchanging secure messages with someone from your doctor to discuss test results or next steps after an appointment.

It can be used to diagnose new health problems and monitor existing long-term problems such as diabetes.

WHAT’S THE BUZZ?

These virtual visits can save time and give patients more doctor choices. This is especially important for those who live where options for in-person care are limited or for patients who cannot take time off work to go to the doctor or do not have transportation.

The use of telemedicine exploded after COVID-19 hit in 2020. It has cooled off since then, but remains more popular than before the pandemic, especially in specialties like dermatology or mental health.

Amazon now offers a telemedicine option in every state. And many companies are selling subscription-based packages focused on virtual care. For them, patients pay a regular fee for doctor visits and mail-order prescriptions for the treatment of high blood pressure, anxiety or hair loss, among other things.

WHAT ARE THE KEYS FOR A VALUABLE VISIT?

Test your phone or tablet before the visit starts. You want to make sure that both audio and video are working correctly. You may need time to adjust the device settings.

Make sure you are in a room or location that offers privacy, especially during therapy sessions. This is usually not a workspace, library or restaurant with public WiFi.

Do not drive, walk, or eat while you are talking to the doctor. These habits are not only unsafe, but can also be distracting for both the patient and the doctor, noted Dr. Enter Jay Lee, a primary care physician who conducts both in-person and virtual visits.

WHAT ARE THE LIMITS?

Telemedicine requires a secure, high-speed internet connection, and some patients or physicians may lack the technology to conduct a virtual visit.

Sometimes physical examinations are necessary.

Someone seeking help for a urinary tract infection — which can be treated with telemedicine — may even have gallbladder problems. That might require an ultrasound during an in-person visit, noted Lee, a board member of the American Academy of Family Physicians.

There may also be restrictions on receiving telemedicine from doctors outside your country. The pandemic emergency declarations that made this easier have ended.

That can make aftercare difficult when a patient travels to visit a specialist.

“There aren’t that many pediatric specialists in all the different conditions that can affect children,” said Krista Drobac, founder of the Alliance for Connected Care, which advocates the use of telemedicine.

WHAT IS THE PROPER BALANCE?

That may depend on the patient’s comfort with telemedicine and the treatment he or she needs.

In some cases, there is no balance if a patient does not have an in-person option or if the visit is difficult to schedule.

If possible, Lee recommends an initial in-person visit and then follow-ups via telemedicine. He says the first visit is important for any doctor or specialist you expect to see again.

Both the doctor and the patient need to determine whether they “have an atmosphere, that they can get along and that they can work together,” he said.

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