Remote consultation allows you and your doctor or a health professional to meet over the phone or the Internet. This way, a person will receive all the benefits without actually visiting the hospital.

One can plan appointments based on their convenience without leaving the comfort of home. This technology also avoids any risk of infection or spread — it helped many individuals during the pandemic. Moreover, by eliminating the need to travel, a lot of time and money can be saved.

Consulting a doctor has been a significant challenge in many states during and after the pandemic. In such a situation, patients suffering from various disorders had to face a considerable challenge. However, thanks to remote consultation, it made a doctor’s visit easy for such people. Let’s discuss more about its pros, cons, and how to perform it perfectly.

Cons of Remote Consultation

Remote consultation with the help of the latest technology proved to be a significant and game-changing factor in many lives. Although there are some limitations to technology and consumerism, they can be overcome with use, practice, and better technology.

• Remote consulting has many advantages but also some drawbacks as well. For instance, some people may require extensive treatment for complex health conditions.
• Sometimes a physical examination is required, which is not possible in remote consultation. In addition, in some cases, monitoring tests for controlled drugs are needed.
• Not everyone has a smartphone or gadget required for remote consultation. Moreover, even those who have a smartphone may find it difficult to communicate because of various reasons such as network problems, which can be avoided only by physical counseling.
• Another major disadvantage is that remote consultation cannot be provided to patients with complex issues. Whether it is a physical, mental, or social issue, they require far more attention than a remote consultation.

Remote consulting is not suitable for people who are too young or too old and those who need a physical examination or do not know how to use technology appropriately.

Easy Tips to Remember While Experiencing Benefits of Remote Consultation

First and foremost, you need to be educated in the right way to understand and operate digital devices like smartphones or computers. Then, doctors and other healthcare providers should invest in the appropriate equipment needed for successful consultations.

The staff should be well trained on how to make the session work out in a remote consultation. A few basic steps will help simplify remote consulting services for some complex consultations.

Although remote consultation can sometimes be beneficial, it can sometimes be life-threatening as the doctor may fail to examine the patient thoroughly, leading to an overlooked problem. It can be a deadly disease and can even take the life of the patient.

However, remote consultation may be helpful when the patient has fever, cough, cold, headache, body aches, etc., and is not helpful for people with severe illness and life-threatening complications.

Guidance for Patients: How to Prepare for a Video Consultation

Before Video Consultation

1. Test the device such as a smartphone, tablet (e.g., iPad), laptop, or desktop computer, and check whether they are working fine. Use broadband internet connection (> 1 Mbps) or confirm the availability of a strong Wi-Fi / 4G signal. Use a wired connection if possible. Check if the device’s battery is full-charged or plugged in. Adjust the camera position or angle so the doctor can see you. Test your microphone and speaker before the consultation.
2. Room: Find a quiet private space so that you and the doctor can communicate without interference. 
3. Lighting: Make sure the room is well lit. Cameras require more light than the human eye to produce a quality image. Use a broad light source with daylight, as this tends to reduce shadows and contrast. Point yourself toward the light source. For example, if the light source is a window, look at it when looking into the camera. Avoid high-intensity light behind you as it distorts the image, and the doctor will not see you clearly.
4. Appearance: Check whether the camera is at the proper distance from your body so that the doctor can see your relevant body part for examination, not just your face.
5. Support: Consider asking a family member or caregiver to join you. They can help during the examination by noting down necessary steps the doctor recommends or by holding the device. If the doctor cannot see the person with you, inform the doctor that they are present to attend a consultation if necessary.
6. Measurements: If you have home appliances such as a thermometer, blood pressure, or blood glucose monitor, take measurements as needed before the consultation.
7. Questions and Notes: Consider making a list of concerns and questions you have in your mind before the consultation and include any significant medical history information such as allergies.
8. Medications: Make a list of the medicines you are taking.
9. Smartphone functions and features: Familiarize yourself with the settings, functions, and features of your phone and the video consulting app, including the mute and on/off video button if you are not familiar with the device or the application.

During Video Consultation

1. Introduction: Introduce yourself, and at the beginning of the consultation, tell the doctor who you are with if they are out of sight.
2. Audio and Video: Ensure that the doctor can see and hear you. Otherwise, a telephone consultation may be more appropriate.

So, these are a few tips that can make your remote consultation as effective as face-to-face visits. If you are turning 65 and wondering what Medicare plan will suit you according to your medical needs, such as frequent doctor visits, wheelchair, etc., reach out to Simpler Horizons. 

Our experienced licensed agents will assess your medical needs first and guide you for a suitable Medicare plan. Contact us now!