Telehealth: The Future is Now

“Healthcare at the touch of a button.” “On-demand doctors.” “Skip the waiting room.” “Healthcare at your fingertips.”

The future of healthcare is here and it’s right in our hands with Telehealth services. We hear so many messages about the ease of access to healthcare providers via our smartphones and various Telehealth or telemedicine services. But what kinds of things can you actually be seen for via a phone or video call? We’re here to answer some of those questions.

Note: In this blog post, we’ll focus on acute care Telehealth offerings (i.e. things you would walk-in to a Medical Clinic or even an urgent care for). There are many other services that can be done via telehealth, such as Behavioral Health services, post-surgical care, and more complex conditions like diabetes or high blood pressure. Be sure to ask your provider if they offer Telehealth options.

But first, what is a Telehealth visit like?

A telehealth visit is very much like any other appointment. At Singing River, you can book your Telehealth appointment by using MySingingRiver. Your provider asks you some standard questions about your history, the reason for your “visit,” symptoms, pre-existing conditions, and more. Using your answers, they can assess your condition. The only difference? you can do your visit from the comfort of your own home…or even your desk at work, without lengthy waits in crowded waiting rooms or the need for using your precious time off from work.

So, what kinds of issues can I be seen for via Telehealth?

The short answer is nearly anything you’d usually walk into a Medical Clinic or Urgent Care for (of course, not time-sensitive emergencies like stroke or heart attack). Even issues like strep throat, COVID, urinary infections, or STDs that may require lab work to diagnose can start with a Telehealth visit.

Here’s a list of conditions, issues, and needs that can be handled via Telehealth:

• Cough, cold or flu
• COVID
• Medication refills*
• Minor burns
• Minor cuts and scrapes
• Seasonal allergies
• Sinus infections
• Strep throat
• Urinary tract infections*
• Vomiting/diarrhea
• Migraines, headaches
• Rashes and other skin conditions
• Acid reflux or heartburn
• Constipation
• Insect bites or stings
• Sexually transmitted infection exposure/screening*
• Upset stomach
• Joint Pain
• Yeast infection
• Nausea
• Fever
• Acne
• Asthma
• Birth control
• High risk HIV prevention (PrEP)*
• Wellness visits/Preventative screenings (Mammogram, Cologuard, etc)*

*Labs May Be Required

How can I get lab work & medications if I’m on my cell phone?

We haven’t quite gotten fancy enough to test you for strep or cured the common cold using your cell phone’s camera, but we can provide you with fast and easy solutions for testing and prescriptions.

Fast Pass Testing

If your provider determines that you need testing during your Telehealth visit, they will immediately place an order for the required tests and issue you a Testing “Fast Pass” notice via MySingingRiver. You can then go to your closest participating Singing River Medical Clinic location, show the notice in your app, and will immediately be taken back to complete testing–no waiting necessary! Results can then be shared with you via MySingingRiver or follow-up via Telehealth if needed.

Electronic Prescription Services

If you are in need of prescription medication based on your Telehealth appointment, your provider can quickly and easily send the prescription to the pharmacy of your choice electronically, so that you can pick it up at your convenience.

So, what are you waiting for? Book a Telehealth appointment today.

Content inspired by Healthcare is Selfcare: The Podcast.