What is telemedicine?
Telemedicine, sometimes called telehealth, enables you to connect with the medical team at Medico through modern HIPAA compliant video-conferencing tools on your computer or smartphone.
Telemedicine is the 21st-century version of doctor “house calls,” but instead of the doctor physically driving to your home, you connect via video chat, allowing long-distance contact, care, advice, reminders, monitoring, and education.
Telemedicine also allows your doctor or nurse to provide follow up care and advice about treatments previously received at the practice.
What are the benefits of telemedicine?
Telemedicine services provide convenience and flexibility, making it easier to stay healthy and engaged in your health care. You save time by avoiding the commute to and from the office for appointments, while still receiving real-time care from your doctor.
Telemedicine makes it possible to seek advice and assistance from doctors without the fear of getting sick from other people in the practice.
What kinds of things can I use telemedicine for?
Telemedicine is not designed for emergency care for life-threatening or urgent conditions. If you have an emergency, visit the emergency room. You can use telemedicine when you have health questions, minor injuries, or symptoms. The Medico telemedicine software makes it possible to:
- Determine whether you need an in-person doctor visit
- Receive advice on a minor injury or illness
- Report health symptoms
- Discuss side effects of an existing treatment plan
- Schedule an appointment
Your health care team may also use the software to follow up with you after in-person appointments and see how you’re responding to your treatment plan.
Can I schedule annual physicals using telemedicine?
Telemedicine is designed to supplement traditional health care services while reducing expenses, but is not meant to replace visits to the doctor for annual physicals, preventive screenings, or sick visits. Telemedicine allows the team at Medico to provide care in between your in-person visits for follow up, advice, and patient education as needed.
Is telemedicine covered by insurance and Medicaid?
Most private insurance and Medicaid plans in Arizona cover telemedicine services. You can receive live video and home health monitoring telemedicine services under Arizona Medicaid. Private insurance companies are required to pay for telemedicine services for patients in rural areas. The team at Medico will help determine whether your insurance covers telemedicine.
Start using Medico telemedicine today by calling the practice or using the online booking tool. When scheduling your appointment, let the team know you wish to set up telemedicine services.
