Definitely not. While some issues can be easily discussed or treated over a video chat, medical care is best rendered in person. Telemedicine visits have skyrocketed since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic in March with many doctors opting to move all visits that didn’t need to be in-person to virtual.
Telemedicine is extremely convenient; who doesn’t want to wait on their couch instead of in a waiting room? But virtual visits also can’t be a substitute for talking to someone face-to-face or doing an in-person exam.
Schedule Now
If you have any sort of chronic condition or have a wellness visit or preventative screening coming up make sure to get on your doctor’s schedule now. It’s especially important to get your appointments on the calendar if you have medications that will need refills soon.
If you have any issues that will need an in-person exam make sure to schedule as soon as possible, as doctor’s schedules are filling up quickly and you may have to wait longer than usual for an appointment.
Virtual vs. In-Person Visits
There are many pros to telemedicine but there are also some drawbacks and things that just can’t be replicated with a video chat.
Pros of Telemedicine:
- Convenience
- No travel needed
- Easy for simple concerns or medication refills
- Shorter wait times
Cons of Telemedicine:
- Technology glitches and issues
- Internet connectivity issues
- Lack of body language cues
- No physical examination
- Lack of personal connection
- No option for additional testing
Stay Healthy
During the COVID-19 pandemic it’s important to stay healthy however you can and a telemedicine visit can be a great way to do that if you don’t have any other options. But if you need to see your doctor in person be sure to make your appointment now!
Resources:
- https://www.commonwealthfund.org/publications/2020/apr/impact-covid-19-outpatient-visits
- https://health.usnews.com/health-news/articles/2012/07/24/pros-and-cons-of-telemedicine-for-todays-workers