Tips for a telemedicine appointment

Venturing out from home during these uncertain times can be stressful. However, if you feel that you have health issues developing, “seeing” the doctor promptly is necessary to avoid serious complications. Fortunately, today most health care providers offer a telemedicine option as a way to “see” a patient.

Basically, telemedicine allows doctors and patients to communicate via computer or mobile devices. Remember that severe symptoms like chest pain, sudden difficulty in breathing or onset of weakness on one side of the body need to be handled in an emergency room. Other less urgent medical issues may be handled through telemedicine.

Here are five tips to help make a telemedicine visit successful.

1. Make an appointment just as you would a regular visit. Call your doctor’s office and briefly describe your situation to the nurse. She will determine if a telemedicine visit is an option for your situation and set up a time to connect with the doctor.

2. Spend some time thinking about your symptoms and write down the information. Be as specific as possible and gather data. Take your temperature and blood pressure if possible. Think about when the symptoms started and how they progressed. Take note of any triggers like symptoms being worse after eating or better in the morning. If possible, try making a chart describing the symptoms at different times of the day. If there is a visible symptom like a rash, try taking a picture of it and be prepared to show it to the doctor. The more information you can gather, the easier it will be for the doctor to diagnose the problem.

3. Find a quiet, secure place. Speaking with your doctor is very personal. Put the dog in another room, move away from other people and close the door so that you have a feeling of privacy. Turn off radios and any other distractions that might interfere with the conversation with the doctor. Get everything ready before the appointment time so that there are no last minute distractions.

4. Be sure all your equipment works. Check your internet connection when using a computer. Be sure your microphone and web cam are set up. It is best to have a camera at eye level so you can make eye contact with the doctor. Close other programs on the computer so that you maximize your bandwidth during the visit. Be sure the area where you are sitting is well lit so that the doctor is able to see you. If you are communicating by phone, be sure that you are not on a call on the phone at the appointment time.

5. Make a list of questions. It is common to forget your concerns when you finally connect with the doctor. To avoid having to call back or have questions left unanswered, write down the things you want to ask about including medication questions, side effects and any limitations on activity. Spend some time thinking about what you want to learn during the visit and be sure to cover those topics. Your doctor can’t read your mind so if you have a concern, be ready to bring it up.

Getting the appropriate level of care

It is important to match the medical needs to the appropriate level of care. This is especially true during a time of recovery when getting the best care can impact the final outcome. Being assured that you are receiving the proper diet, effective pain relief, targeted therapy and careful symptom monitoring can significantly improve and shorten the time of recovery. Staying in a short-term care facility is an ideal way to receive the best care possible from a team of professionals who are focused on your needs.

Whitehall of Deerfield is a  premier location for short-term care. Whitehall of Deerfield has consistently received Medicare’s highest rating in its five-star quality rating system of rehabilitation facilities and is accredited and certified by The Joint Commission, the nation’s leading and most respected health care accrediting authority. Quality care has always been and continues to be a priority at Whitehall of Deerfield.

When it comes to expertise, Whitehall of Deerfield is one of the best. A clinical nurse liaison works with each guest to design a personalized plan of service. One-on-one therapy is provided seven days a week by the area’s top therapists in multiple specialized gyms, which allows each guest to get the individualized services they need. Safety is also addressed in many ways from accessible showers to barrier-free hallways.

Whitehall of Deerfield also provides the strictest level of safety and infection control, offering you a short-term stay in its separate infection-free, post-hospital wing with a specially trained, dedicated staff. Whitehall of Deerfield also provides routine facility-wide COVID-19 testing and ongoing patient and staff monitoring to ensure your health and safety.

In addition, telemedicine visits with physicians are available 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

There are few competitors than can match Whitehall of Deerfield’s ability to pamper their guests. Well-appointed rooms and suites feature world-class amenities, including concierge service, high-speed wireless internet, daily delivery of Starbucks coffee and newspaper, in-room massage and dozens of cable channels with a 24-hour channel of newly-released movies. Guests select meals from menus and enjoy in-room dining. There are also complimentary fresh-baked treats and ice cream available at an on-site ice cream parlor and coffee shop.

To learn more about Whitehall of Deerfield, visit whitehallofdeerfield.com or call 847-945-4600.