If you’re like most Americans, you’ve probably been following the news in recent weeks. With COVID-19 dominating the headlines, it’s often difficult to filter out the noise and find the stories that directly impact you.
One that you might have missed is the increased demand for telemedicine.
Telemedicine, also known as telehealth, is a form of medical care that you can get without visiting a doctor in person. Think of it like a virtual consultation, where you talk to your doctor from the comfort of your home, to get preliminary advice and a referral to visit a clinic if it’s needed.
If you’re thinking about visiting your podiatrist, consider calling ahead to see if a telemedicine consultation is best for you.
Preventing the Spread of the Pandemic with Telemedicine
Some of the leading telemedicine networks have reported demand growth exceeding 50% in the last two months. With millions of Americans facing lockdowns and restricted movement, on-demand healthcare has become essential.
It’s not just convenience that you gain when visiting your podiatrist in Boynton Beach remotely. There are also significant health and safety benefits that come from virtual consultations.
The most important is that telemedicine can help to prevent the spread of illness. COVID-19 has claimed more than 100,000 lives in the United States. Confirmed infections already exceed 1.7 million. The Coronavirus is spread primarily through droplets, and you’re more likely to become infected if you frequently engage in close personal contact or spend time in crowded areas.
Simply sitting next to someone in a doctor’s waiting room could increase your risk, and if you visit a clinic or hospital where others are infected, that risk only multiplies.
With telemedicine, you greatly reduce the likelihood of becoming infected with Coronavirus, as well as other illnesses that can spread in the community. You’ll feel safer knowing that you don’t have to visit a busy waiting room.
As your podiatrist, we’ve already taken steps to protect you in case you do need to visit our practice.
Our waiting room has been temporarily disabled, and we will instead meet you at your vehicle to escort you inside at an appointment time that’s convenient for you.
We regularly disinfect our facilities and use all of the necessary PPE (Personal Protective Equipment) to keep both you and our medical staff safe.
Other Benefits That Will Change the Healthcare Industry
Telemedicine has come front and center during the COVID-19 Pandemic. The benefits are becoming more apparent, and our podiatrist predicts that virtual consultations will become increasingly common, even long after the health crisis.
When considering some of the other important benefits, it’s easy to see why.
- Telemedicine makes it easier to access healthcare, particularly for those who are mobility impaired or otherwise unable to visit a provider.
- It’s more flexible and convenient. It cuts down the travel time, waiting time, and other factors that make visiting the doctor a stressful experience.
- A virtual consultation is sometimes the best option for managing chronic conditions or recovery.
Not every examination needs to be physical. Sometimes, patients want to speak to a podiatrist to get advice related to surgical recovery, or to ask about the symptoms that they’re experiencing.
Schedule a Telemedicine Consultation with Your Podiatrist in Boynton Beach and Boca Raton, FL.
At the Foot, Ankle & Leg Vein Center, we recognize the potential of telemedicine to change the healthcare industry. This change will be positive for practitioners and their patients.
Particularly during the current pandemic, virtual consultations are important and can help to reduce the spread of COVID-19.
If you are suffering from foot pain or lower leg pain, you can talk to your podiatrist. Dr. Jason Gold and Dr. Jodi Schoenhaus are both available for telemedicine consultation now.
You can visit our Telemed links, or call us directly on 561-750-3033 to get more information today.
