Telemedicine in Georgia

What Is Telemedicine?

With the technological advances in communication that we are able to benefit from today, that fortunately includes another way we can seek care. That other way comes in the form of telemedicine services, in which one can have a medical consultation anytime of the day from anywhere in the world without having to leave your home.
While the concept of telemedicine goes back nearly 70 years when doctors would offer remote services over the telephone and by making house calls, telemedicine has since expanded to offer services via online portals managed by your own physician, video software created for the purpose of providing remote consultations, and phone apps managed by telemedicine service companies. These telemedicine services include: 

With eReddy care, you can see a doctor without stepping into a doctor’s waiting room where there is a higher risk of exposure to germs and illnesses. Once patients try virtual doctors, they may actually visit a doctor in person much less frequently than ever before with the convenience that video visits can offer. 

During your telemedicine visits, you are able to discuss symptoms you are experiencing as well as your medical issues with a healthcare provider in real-time. While using telemedicine, you can receive a diagnosis, learn your treatment options, and get a prescription. In some cases, healthcare providers can even monitor readings from medical devices remotely to monitor your condition.

While many medical issues including colds, flus, tonsillitis, pink eye and insect bites can be addressed and treated during a telemedicine visit, emergency situations such as heart attacks or strokes, lacerations, or broken bones that require x-rays or casts merit a visit to the emergency room or urgent care. In other words, the rule of thumb is that any medical issue that necessitates immediate, hands-on care should be taken care of in person. 

Otherwise for non-emergency needs, you can schedule a virtual consultation with your healthcare provider to rule out whether you need an in-person consultation or not. 

What is Telehealth?

Not to be confused with telemedicine, telehealth is not a service. Rather, it is a way to improve patient care and physician education. Telehealth covers non-clinical events like appointment scheduling, continuing medical education, and physician training.

Telemedicine Benefits

There are undoubtedly many benefits when it comes to telemedicine, including but not limited to the following:

• It can help improve one’s overall health and well-being
• It is convenient for a patient with a busy work schedule 
• It is also convenient for a patient who lives very far from a hospital or doctor’s office 
• It is a good compromise for those who are hesitant to go to a doctor’s office.
• It is more feasible financially than a visit to the doctor’s office, the ER or urgent care.

Telemedicine doesn’t completely eliminate the need to go to a doctor’s office, but it does make healthcare much more accessible, convenient, and affordable at times. 

For more telemedicine and telehealth resources, visit:  

https://www.cchpca.org/about/about-telehealth

https://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/consumer-health/in-depth/telehealth/art-20044878

https://www.healthit.gov/topic/health-it-initiatives/telemedicine-and-telehealth