Telehealth services

Seeing a health care provider via video call, called telehealth services, is being used now more than ever with the pandemic.
Telehealth can cost a lot less than visiting a doctor’s office, urgent-care center or the emergency room. It can be a good way to access a doctor if you have upper respiratory issues, flu, fever, rashes, cough, urinary tract infection and pink eye, for example. You can meet with the doctor through a secure video visit on your phone, computer or tablet, and can upload photos of rashes for the doctor to review. The doctors typically have electronic prescribing rights directly to the pharmacy. And more health plans are expanding telehealth into behavioral health, which helps provide access to therapists and psychologists in areas that suffer from a shortage of providers.
Insurers and employers are expanding telehealth into many other types of care, such as offering virtual visits for dermatology, weight-management programs, diabetes care management, medical decision support, sleep management, cardiac care management and prenatal care and coaching.
I see this being used more and more, as not only patients, but doctors as well, see the convenience and practical advantages of telehealth.