Access Your Doctor in the Palm of Your Hand: The Role of Telemedicine

Imagine this: you need to see your doctor for a follow-up appointment to discuss your medications and lab work, but you have a busy schedule and cannot seem to carve out the time to drive over to the office. Or you just had surgery and you are having difficulty getting around and need to see your doctor. Now, what if you had the ability to make this visit happen without leaving your home or office? This is the convenience of telemedicine, which allows you to speak to your doctor and have a full evaluation without physically going to the doctor’s office.

In the world of rheumatology, most conditions require follow up and lab monitoring. This includes conditions such as rheumatoid arthritis, lupus, psoriasis, psoriatic arthritis, ankylosing spondylitis, gout, and the list goes on. Medications such as biologics and DMARDs (disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drugs) require regular appointments so your doctor can ensure you are tolerating the medication well without side effects. Telemedicine is a wonderful way to check-in with your rheumatologist to let him/her know how you are doing and discuss any changes in your symptoms, tolerance to medications, give updates regarding other medications, and any other concerns you may have. A key drawback of a telehealth appointment is that the doctor cannot physically examine you. So, if you have a specific condition or area of concern that requires an in-person evaluation, it would be advisable to schedule an in-office visit instead.

Telemedicine has become increasingly popular and can be applied in all types of patient visits. Follow these easy tips to ensure a smooth and productive appointment.

It is beneficial to provide a thorough history of your health for initial consultations. Your doctor has not evaluated you before and this will be the first time they will get to know you. Have a list of your medications ready, write down your symptoms so you can properly explain to your doctor the reason for the consultation. At times, your doctor may be able to assess symptoms via webcam as well. Your doctor may order additional testing or imaging and may suggest a follow-up in the office to perform a physical exam.

As telemedicine appointments do require internet, be sure to have a proper Wi-Fi connection or enough data signal so you can see and hear your doctor properly. It is not recommended to do telemedicine appointments while driving or in noisy environments. Make sure you are in a quiet, well-lit setting so you can communicate with your physician more efficiently. If you miss something your physician said, don’t hesitate to ask for clarification. If you’re not too familiar with the technology of virtual appointments, try to have a loved one or friend close by to help you set up your meeting.

Not all physicians and practices offer telehealth, so if this is a service you are interested in, ask your physician whether they partake in virtual appointments. Insurance policies on telehealth coverage are also evolving so confirm with your insurers that your plan covers telemedicine appointments. You may or may not be able to do virtual visits with a doctor outside of your state. For example, if you live in New York, you may only be able to do virtual appointments with physicians practicing in New York state.

As a physician, I personally recommend and support the use of telehealth for my patients, especially stable patients needing routine follow-ups. This limits the burden of taking time off work, finding childcare, and seeking transportation, when scheduling doctor’s appointments. Every week, approximately 25% of my patients are seen virtually as telemedicine appointments. The care I provide virtually remains consistent with the care I provide in the office. I virtually get to meet patient’s family members and have detailed conversations regarding their health.

While rheumatic diseases can be complex, your relationship with your physician shouldn’t be. You should be able to speak with your doctor and be seen in a timely fashion if there are new concerns. Telemedicine allows for improved communication and is a wonderful tool which I hope we can continue utilizing to provide appropriate care.