Telemedicine is the virtual delivery of medical care for patients through a smartphone, computer, or other internet connected device. With telemedicine, patients can get the care they need even as the COVID-19 pandemic progresses and creates more barriers for healthcare access. But many patients may not be sure what types of services telemedicine may cover.

The need for telemedicine has surged in recent weeks as COVID-19 cases across the United States now eclipse 1,000,000 cases. The national rise in COVID-19 led to major closures of community businesses and buildings, as well as stay-at-home orders for workers,  which meant that patients are likely to defer care without proper medical guidance. However, the good news for many patients is that telemedicine covers a variety of acute urgent care needs.

Unless it is a medical emergency, telemedicine and telehealth urgent care are able to provide immediate healthcare access for many patients. A patient has to book an appointment online in order to get care from our provider team. Here is a quick breakdown of the medical services provided by telehealth and telemedicine:

Sudden illness symptoms are treatable via telemedicine

COVID-19 symptoms are very similar to those of the common cold or influenza. Coughing, sneezing, fever, fatigue, and headache are all potential symptoms of an illness or viral infection, but patients may not know the cause of symptoms without a provider visit. That is where telemedicine and telehealth come in.

A provider can diagnose sudden illness symptoms and coordinate treatment for your needs. Urgent care staff can even screen patients for COVID-19 via telemedicine by asking a series of questions and evaluating their current risk factors. As patients continue to go back to work and resume normal activities, a telemedicine visit is a quick way to get a medical review of your illness symptoms without the need for a visit to a doctor’s office.

Minor acute gastrointestinal, bug bites, rashes, and more treatable

Telemedicine can help patients treat a myriad of minor acute illnesses and conditions, and has a wide range of uses for patients. The only thing patients need to know is that telemedicine is not ideal for treating in-person specific needs such as injury and emergency care. The list of commonly used telemedicine services includes the following:

• Asthma
• Bronchitis
• Bug Bites
• Gastrointestinal Issues  (Stomach Pain and Diarrhea)
• Rashes
• Sinus Pain
• UTIs
• Skin Irritation

If you have any additional questions about what you can use telemedicine for, please contact our provider team right away to ensure that we can effectively and efficiently serve your urgent care needs!