TelemedicineMilford, CT

What is Telemedicine?

Telemedicine is “the use of electronic and telecommunication technologies" that allow patients access to health care without visiting a physical office. Through various forms of technology, including phone, tablet, or computer, patients can seek medical advice for non-emergency conditions and discuss symptoms with their practitioner. These appointments often involve photos, video, or camera engagement, which provides the doctor with a visual of the condition when appropriate.

Telemedicine appointments are most commonly used when a patient is unable to physically come into the office, during after-hours, and for monitoring an ongoing condition. The three types of telemedicine include interactive medicine: when physicians and patients communicate in real-time; remote patient monitoring: allows practitioners to monitor data on blood pressure, blood sugar levels, etc.; and store and forward: collecting and sharing patients’ health information with other healthcare professionals or specialists.

How Telemedicine Works

Patients will have access to an online portal with personal login information. The portal allows patients to make an appointment, list their symptoms and concerns, and ask any pertinent questions. The physician will then assess the case and determine whether they could offer their advice through a reply or the patient would benefit from an in-person visit or online appointment.

Once an appointment is scheduled, the patient and practitioner meet over the online portal. We may request that the patient use video or send photos for cases in which we would need to assess the condition visually. During the appointment, we will discuss the patient’s symptoms, record important medical information, update any changes to their health, make recommendations for their current case, and send any necessary lab work or prescriptions.

Types of Telemedicine Services

Patients often seek telemedicine services for non-emergency cases to acquire medical advice on a certain condition. They may also communicate changes in an ongoing condition that the physician is already aware of. Lastly, many telemedicine appointments are made after-hours or by patients outside of the network interested in receiving care from a particular practitioner.

In any case, telemedicine services may include situations such as:

• Diagnoses of common medical problems such as headache, sore throat, back pain, and digestive troubles
• Inquiries about various medical issues for home treatments
• Post-treatment check ins or follow up for chronic care
• Faster refill of short-term medical prescriptions
• Holidays, weekends, late night or any other situation when regular medical care is not possible
• Patient inability to leave the house due to sickness or bad weather conditions

Benefits of Telemedicine

The advantages of telemedicine benefit both patients and practitioners. It allows patients to:

• Talk to their doctor live over the phone or video chat without leaving the comfort of their home or office
• Send and receive messages from their doctor using chat messaging or email
• Access their health record and monitorization remotely
• Save on travel time/transportation costs
• Take fewer days off of school/work

It benefits practitioners by:

• Reducing wait time for services
• Reducing number of visits to clinic
• Expanding access to patients in and out of network
• Attaining a larger clientele
• Having access to patients’ data and sharing information easily with other practitioners

Although telemedicine has been around for many years, it has expanded substantially after the pandemic. Since the stay at home order was set in place, many people requiring care turned to telehealth services and realized their benefits even after the order was lifted. Today, many patients use telemedicine for many aspects of their healthcare, including primary care, dental care, mental health care, and specialty care.

Schedule an Appointment

Telemedicine consultations and treatments are available at our office. The MD Care Now team looks forward to meeting you and helping you through your symptoms. Call our office at (203) 878-1006 to learn more about telemedicine, any of our services, or to schedule an appointment.

Frequently Asked Questions About Telemedicine

Who uses telemedicine?

Healthcare providers offer telemedicine and telecommunication services to provide various forms of medical care, including dentists, primary care physicians, mental health specialists, and other medical specialists. It is important to ask or look online to ensure your healthcare provider offers the service before making an appointment.

What is the difference between telemedicine and telehealth?

The biggest difference between telemedicine and telehealth is the type of care provided. Telemedicine typically involves clinical care services, while telehealth can include both clinical and non-clinical services. These services are both offered remotely.

What technologies do I need to make a telemedicine appointment?

The essential technology requirements for a telemedicine appointment are broadband internet access, audio and video capabilities, imaging technology (such as a camera), and email access. These can all be done on a phone, tablet, or computer. We will provide patients with login information to access their online portal. Patients who do not have access to these technologies may use a public computer space, such as a library, and ask for a private area during their appointment time.

Does insurance cover telemedicine services?

Most insurance providers cover telemedicine services in place of physical appointments. Coverage generally includes any services that would be covered by an in-person visit. We recommend patients contact their insurance provider prior to seeking treatment to ensure coverage and any out-of-pocket costs.

Are telemedicine appointments secure?

Telemedicine has become more secure than ever. Patient information and data are available only to patients and their various providers (physicians, specialists, etc.). Screen sharing and video conferencing use encrypted screen capture and all data is encrypted within the portal. Emails sent through telecommunications are encrypted and require patients to log in through the portal to access the information.