Virtual Urgent Care with Real Doctors: How It Works Behind the Screen
The last place you want to be when you are sick is in a packed waiting room, and that’s where telehealth comes in. It is the bridge between technology and healthcare, allowing patients to access real doctors without ever leaving home. It’s a place for modern issues to find modern solutions, especially for people trying to balance a busy schedule or who have mobility or transportation problems.
Though it may seem a little too distant at first to actually be a doctor visit, seeing a physician through a computer screen works surprisingly well. The doctors who handle this sort of thing are real, licensed M.D.s, and they project the same kind of professionalism you’d expect in any physical clinic. Virtual urgent care is meant to be just that: urgent care you can access from anywhere.
What Happens During a Virtual Visit?
Telehealth appointments are typically known for a speedy intake process, much more so than at a traditional clinic. You will provide information about your signs of illness, your medical past, and the current medications you take.
Once this is done, you’re mere minutes away from a virtual doctor’s visit through secure software that allows for real-time video chat with a real doctor. The doctor you see will be able to diagnose you, providing the necessary health information and prescriptions, if needed.
Who You’re Talking To: Yes, They’re Real Doctors
A common misunderstanding is that these services are manned by bots or run like a call center. In truth, you’re interfacing with actual, board-certified doctors and licensed practitioners. Many of the people you talk to have regular jobs in hospitals and clinics, while also offering telehealth appointments.
These individuals are completely qualified to identify ailments, write prescriptions, and offer medical counsel just as they would in a brick-and-mortar office. The benefit here is that you’re cutting out travel time and avoiding the discomfort of a crowded waiting room filled with sick people.
What Can Be Treated?
Virtual urgent care is optimal for non-emergency situations. These include mild infections, cold and flu symptoms, skin conditions, urinary tract infections, allergies, and minor injuries. Doctors can also assist with mental health concerns, follow-up visits, and managing chronic conditions. When it comes to these last two types of care, they often don’t require physical tests or imaging that a traditional doctor’s visit would necessitate.
Naturally, if you’re having chest pain, you’re bleeding heavily, or you’re facing any sort of health emergency, it’s imperative to visit the nearest ER or call 911. But when it comes to the average, day-to-day health issues that just about everyone experiences, virtual visits are just as effective.
The Convenience and Comfort of Virtual Urgent Care
Opting for online healthcare doesn’t mean skimping on the quality of your medical attention. Indeed, with certified physicians attending to your every need through the screen, you’re getting services that are as good as those received in the traditional manner.
Furthermore, you’re not spending unnecessary time sitting around in waiting rooms; rather, you’re experiencing a punctual system that is much more respectful of your valuable time.