Staying Fit
Virtual health care can seem intimidating after a lifetime of in-office visits. But think of it as an additional tool to use to get the best care possible, says Matthew Faiman, M.D., who is affiliated with the Cleveland Clinic. “It isn’t meant to replace face-to-face care.” These are 5 benefits of virtual care for patients, according to health care professionals:
Convenience
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You waste more time than you think on routine doctor visits, whether it’s sitting in stop-and-go traffic or in a waiting room. “Virtual visits reduce travel time,” says George Go, M.D., of Kaiser Permanente Northwest.
Virtual care means having a doctor appointment right from your bed.
Illustration by Matthew Hollister
Managing chronic conditions
Several hospital systems use virtual-care technologies to monitor ongoing health conditions — such as diabetes, high blood pressure and COPD — as frequently as daily, so they can act immediately if anything goes awry.
Virtual doctor visits are convenient for those traveling or who live far from a city.
Illustration by Matthew Hollister
Treating urgent systems
The last thing you want when a fever or cough hits is to drag yourself out of bed to sit in a waiting room filled with other sick people. Virtual care lets you have an initial appointment right from your bed.
Virtual doctor visits can save you the time of commuting and sitting in a waiting room.
Illustration by Matthew Hollister
More efficient health care
Telehealth reduces the number of appointments you'll make with doctors and specialists.
Illustration by Matthew Hollister
One potential benefit of telehealth care is having primary doctors and specialists participating together in a virtual visit, reducing the number of appointments you need and, in many cases, the costs you pay.
First-class care anywhere
Virtual-care technologies can monitor diabetes, high blood pressure and COPD.
Illustration by Matthew Hollister
If you live far from a city or are in another country, telehealth is helping to expand access to both doctors and services. “Retirees tend to travel a lot,” Go observes. “Virtual visits make it much easier to coordinate care.”
