Right here at We ❤ Health Literacy Headquarters, we’re massive followers of each preventive well being care and stopping the unfold of COVID-19. So lately, pricey readers, we actually ❤ telehealth. In accordance with CDC, 4 in 10 U.S. adults have avoided health care due to COVID-19 concerns. That’s, nicely, regarding! Individuals want routine well being care, pandemic or no — and telehealth lets them get it with zero anxiousness about additionally getting COVID at their go to.
As well being communicators, we will train our audiences about telehealth and encourage them to provide it a attempt. Begin with a easy definition for the newbies on the market: Telehealth — generally known as telemedicine or a digital go to — is mainly distant well being care. Should you’re utilizing a pc, cellphone, or pill for a health care provider go to, that’s telehealth.
And whereas telehealth actually can’t take the place of all in-person visits, it’s an excellent choice for issues like:
- Yearly checkups together with your main care physician
- Dermatology visits
- Psychological well being counseling
- Diet counseling
- Observe-up visits to share check outcomes
When you’ve coated the fundamentals, spotlight some key telehealth advantages:
- It’s safer. Proper now, telehealth’s important promoting level is that it permits people to remain related to care with out the chance of getting COVID at a health care provider’s workplace or hospital. Simply consider it like social distancing, however together with your physician.
- It’s sooner. Once you reduce out the commute, the ready room, the second ready room (er, examination room), the go to will get an entire lot shorter — and an entire lot simpler to suit right into a busy schedule. And who’s ever mentioned, “I want I spent extra time sitting in ready rooms”? That’s proper. Nobody!
- It will increase entry. Telehealth is especially useful for individuals who have to see a specialist however don’t reside close to one — and it removes the transportation barrier typically. Many telehealth suppliers additionally provide appointments outdoors conventional physician’s workplace hours, making it simpler for individuals to search out occasions that work for them.
So encourage your audiences to ask if their medical doctors provide telehealth — and to test with their insurance coverage carriers to verify it’s coated.
And eventually, whereas COVID security gained’t be as a lot of a problem sooner or later (we positive hope!), 2 of the three advantages above will maintain true lengthy after the pandemic is over. So whereas it’s a wonderful software for maintaining individuals related to care throughout COVID, we predict telehealth is right here to remain.
The underside line: Encourage your audiences to discover telehealth — throughout COVID-19 and past.
