A virtual doctor appointment is an alternative to in-office appointments when you are feeling sick or prefer to see your doctor from the comfort of your home. You might wonder about the differences between a virtual appointment and visiting a clinic in person. There are benefits to both telemedicine and in-person appointments
What Is Telemedicine?
Telemedicine, a virtual doctor appointment, is a subset of telehealth that refers solely to the provision of health care services and education over a distance through the use of telecommunications technology. Using various software systems and applications, healthcare professionals can provide care for patients through virtual appointments. Throughout the coronavirus pandemic, the importance of providing a virtual doctor appointment has grown for those who are sick or may feel more comfortable receiving medical care remotely.
What To Expect During Your Virtual Doctor Appointment
Once you have booked your virtual doctor appointment, you will be emailed a video conferencing link before your appointment. When you begin your appointment, you will click on the link to open up a webpage, and a physician will join you. During a virtual appointment, doctors are not able to perform a physical examination or provide testing, but they can provide recommendations on how to help manage your allergies throughout the appointment. The doctor will discuss with you any symptoms you may be experiencing and responses to any therapies, review your medications and adjust them as needed, and create any treatment plans as needed.
In-Office Appointment
Though the option of telemedicine is now widely available, an in-person visit with a doctor is always preferred. When a patient sees a doctor face-to-face, a more thorough examination is possible. A doctor can provide a physical examination, allergy and asthma testing, and more. With an in-office appointment, a physician will discuss your symptoms in person, and testing can be performed to better address all of your allergy and asthma needs, and an appropriate treatment plan will be recommended.
If you are experiencing fever or symptoms of COVID-19, please consult with your primary care physician before booking an in-office appointment.
Whether you are scheduling an appointment for a virtual consultation or an in-person visit with a doctor, a great resource for allergy and asthma help is McGovern Allergy and Asthma Clinic in Houston, Texas. They offer both virtual and in-office appointments with board-certified physicians. Call 713-661-1444 or request an appointment online. https://mcgovernallergy.com/request-an-appointment-online/