In recent years, booking a telemedicine appointment has become an increasingly popular alternative to in-person doctor’s visits. The convenience of a virtual doctor appointment that takes place in the comfort of your home, and the relative ease of getting an appointment days or weeks before securing an in-person appointment might be possible, has led more people to give it a try. During the Covid-19 pandemic, more people were forced by necessity to try out telehealth appointments, leading to a huge increase in their popularity. In fact, a 2021 nationwide poll showed that nearly four in 10 Americans have used telehealth services, and 82% of those respondents used telehealth services since the start of the pandemic. If you haven’t tried it out yet, you may be wondering, “How do telehealth appointments work?” Here’s what you need to know.
What Is a Telehealth Appointment?
A telehealth appointment is a video consultation with your doctor. Before the Covid-19 pandemic, such an idea might have seemed foreign to you, but with the skyrocketing usage of software like Zoom or FaceTime during the pandemic, you’ve probably spoken in this way to friends, family and coworkers by now. A video telehealth appointment is pretty much that: a Zoom call, but with your doctor. In addition to a face-to-face consultation, telehealth allows you to send and receive messages and digital files from your medical provider.
How Do You Make a Telehealth Appointment?
Making a telehealth appointment with Sun Health Center is easy. All you have to do is click “Book An Appointment” on the bottom right-hand corner of this page and select “TeleHealth,” and someone from Sun Health Center will quickly get back to you. Although Sun Health Center is located in Deerfield Beach, FL, anyone in the United States can take advantage of our telehealth services to experience the quality treatment provided by our doctors and therapists.
What Technology Do You Need for a Telehealth Appointment?
You most likely already have the technology you need in place in order to have a telemedicine consultation: a smartphone or a computer with a webcam, as well as a stable internet connection.
How You Can Safeguard Your Privacy During a Telehealth Appointment
You may have privacy concerns about talking to a doctor in a telehealth appointment and wonder how telemedicine is used. There are a few steps you can take to make sure your medical privacy is respected.
- Make sure you’re in a quiet place where you can’t be overheard. You want to be able to discuss things openly with the doctor, and if you’re worried someone will overhear you, it may be harder to be open and honest. You probably wouldn’t want to participate in a telehealth appointment from your office at work if there’s little privacy there, or from your apartment if roommates can overhear you. Even if the most private place for you to take the telehealth appointment is from your mobile device while in your parked car, that’s okay — the most important thing is that you know no one is listening in.
- Don’t use public or unsecure Wi-Fi. Just as you don’t want anyone physically overhearing you during your telehealth appointment, you probably don’t want anyone digitally snooping on you as you talk to your doctor. For this reason, you should only be participating in a telehealth appointment when you’re sure the wireless network you’re using is trustworthy and secure.
Sun Health Center uses a HIPAA-compliant platform, so during your remote consultation, your safety and privacy are always assured on our end.
What Is the Format of a Telehealth Appointment?
In many ways, a telehealth appointment is just like a regular appointment with your doctor. Many of us have gotten comfortable during the pandemic with Zoom calls and FaceTime, so the format of a face-to-face virtual doctor appointment should hopefully seem somewhat natural. As you would with an in-person appointment, you should arrive a few minutes early to your telehealth appointment. This way you can be sure your connection is good and you’re in a quiet, private environment to discuss your concerns with the doctor. (Like an in-person appointment, your doctor may be late — so be prepared to sit in the “waiting room” for a few minutes.) Come prepared to ask the doctor any questions you have. You might want to keep a pen and paper nearby to write down any notes or follow-up questions you might think of during the video consultation.
Are Doctors Able to Prescribe Via a Telehealth Appointment?
During a video telehealth appointment, doctors can provide the same level of service and care they would during an in-person appointment. This includes prescribing medication or refilling prescriptions. Note, however, that certain prescriptions may still require an in-person doctor’s appointment.
What Conditions Can Be Treated Via a Telehealth Appointment?
Sun Health Center can treat a wide variety of conditions via telemedicine:
- Anxiety disorders
- Depression
- Bipolar disorder
- Eating disorders
- Personality disorders
- PTSD
- Schizophrenia
- Substance use disorders, including opiates and heroin, alcohol, benzos, marijuana, amphetamines and cocaine
- Trauma
In addition, Sun Health Center may also be able to provide remote emergency services and interventions for the following:
- Imminent threat of self-harm or overdose
- Substance abuse
- A need for support with an addiction intervention
- Violent or threatening behavior
- Severe psychotic symptoms
- Acute anxiety symptoms
- Bizarre behaviors
- Anxiety/panic disorders/PTSD
- Bipolar disorder/depression
- Mood disorders/schizophrenia
- Psychiatric medical management, such as Suboxone or methadone maintenance
Your Best Choice for a Telehealth Appointment
If you or someone you know needs to talk with a doctor somewhat soon, a telehealth appointment is a good option because you usually don’t have to wait days or weeks to see a doctor in person. No matter where you’re located, the team at Sun Health Center is here to help with your telemedicine appointment needs. Contact us 24/7 by calling 844-221-9041, or click the “Book An Appointment” button at the bottom of this page to start your journey to better health.
