Want To Talk To A Doctor Online? Learn About The Benefits.

Americans are visiting the doctor less than they used to. Instead, they are searching for information about their health online.

Many Americans forgo doctor’s appointments because of rising health care costs, but many others feel that they’re just too busy to head to their physician’s office.

If you fall into the latter category, you’re in luck! More and more doctors are beginning to offer virtual appointments to help support patients who have a hard time getting to a brick and mortar office.

Read on to learn more about the benefits you receive when you talk to a doctor online.

Benefits of Virtual Appointments

There are a number of reasons why someone might want to consider a virtual doctor’s appointment over a traditional in-person one. Some of the benefits that people notice from these appointments include:

Convenience for both patients and doctors
No discomfort or stress brought on by physical waiting rooms
Screensharing features allow for better patient engagement
Automatic record-keeping is convenient, reliable, and easy to share with patients

Many patients also report feeling that their doctor pays better attention to them during a virtual appointment. This may be because there are fewer distractions during a virtual appointment and high-quality video allows patients to feel more connected than they would over the phone.

How do Virtual Appointments Work?

If you’re interested in meeting with a doctor online, you’re probably wondering how it works. Every system is a little different, of course, but they all follow the same basic scheduling format, which looks something like this:

Register on the practice’s website (this is usually free and only takes a minute or so)
Select a doctor whose specialty matches with your specific condition and needs
Pay for the appointment through a secure site like PayPal
Start a live video chat
Talk to your doctor about your condition and get personalized treatment recommendations

It’s that easy!

Frequently Treated Conditions

Doctors are able to treat most conditions virtually, but some of the most common conditions that patients seek treatment for include:

Fevery
Infections
Sore throat
Abdominal pain
Vomiting
Allergies
Constipation/diarrhea
Headaches/migraines
Joint/muscle pain
Skin problems
Menstrual issues
Respiratory issues
Yeast infections

Many patients also utilize an online doctor for information about travel and the appropriate vaccines they’ll need before a big trip.

Is There Anything Virtual Doctors Can’t Do?

There are a few limitations that virtual doctors must abide by.

For example, they cannot provide prescriptions for narcotic painkillers, nor can they provide service in areas where telemedicine is outlawed. They also are not able to provide services to people who live in areas where their physicians are not licensed to practice.

With the exception of these guidelines, though, there’s almost nothing a virtual doctor can’t do for you.