Telemedicine allows patients to get health consultations using electronic audio and visual means, such as video calls or chat. With telemedicine, patients do not need to drive to the clinic, walk, or queue for too long in the waiting room.

Telemedicine services have provided many advantages, such as during the COVID-19 pandemic. If you have not tried telemedicine so far, then the following tips will be very helpful.

Benefits of a Telemedicine Consultation

Telemedicine consultation is a health consultation that utilizes information and communication technology to obtain remote health services. This allows doctors to diagnose (identify the cause of symptoms or a medical condition) and provide treatment without physical contact. Telemedicine consultations provide several benefits, including:

• Easier access to healthcare services, especially when patients live in remote and hard-to-reach areas
• Reduced patient waiting time and faster treatment
• Lower costs because there is no need to pay for transportation and accommodation
• Easier access as telemedicine can be accessed from mobile phones, tablets, or computers
• Allows doctors to provide treatment remotely
• Improves the patient's quality of life by providing timely and effective treatment
• Provides the information needed so that patients are not confused and misinformed

Preparing for a Telemedicine Consultation

In order to get effective telemedicine services, there are several things that need to be considered and prepared, including:

• Find out if your insurance is connected to the telemedicine application used and can be used for the type of examination you are applying for

• Write down all important information related to your health condition and medical history (your past illnesses, treatments, and medications that help the doctor understand your health condition), including:

  • Medical conditions you have previously experienced
  • Medications that have been taken for current complaints
  • Past treatments and surgeries
  • When the symptoms started
  • Whether there is a history of allergies (adverse reactions to certain substances like food or medication) in the family and yourself
  • Family health history (information on diseases or conditions that run in the family, like diabetes or heart disease)

• Make sure to have a good-quality internet network so that the consultation is not interrupted

• Use a clear camera if you have to undergo a consultation via video call

• Prepare photos or videos related to complaints that may be questioned by the doctor so that the doctor can make a diagnosis.

• Make sure the battery of the cell phone or laptop you are using is fully charged so that it is ready to be used until the consultation ends

• Find a room with sufficient lighting and also not too crowded so that there is no noise disturbance during the consultation

• Prepare some questions that you might ask during the consultation

When consulting with a doctor, it would be better if there is a family member who can help provide information, ask questions, and record the doctor's answers, especially if the patient is elderly or has certain limitations.

If you need medical advice or consultation, you can either visit a doctor or make use of the consultation features that are available in the Ai Care application by downloading the Ai Care application from the App Store or Play Store.

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