If you are a college student, the last thing you’re likely thinking about is sitting in a germ-filled waiting room for an appointment with a doctor you’ve never met. When you need to schedule an appointment, wouldn’t you rather video chat on your phone with your own doctor from your dorm room than some random local doctor or school clinic? Now you can worry about turning in your next paper rather than how you’ll get to your doctor’s appointment.
Here are the top four reasons you might just love telehealth as an option for healthcare.
Less Disruptive / Easier to Schedule
As a student, you’re busy juggling school, work, and the all-important social activities. Rather than having to figure out transportation to the doctor, leave campus or find time to go to their school clinic, consider telehealth as an alternative. You can set up a call with your own doctor from your dorm room or apartment at a time that’s most convenient for you. Instead of being interrupted in class, playing phone tag, traveling off campus and putting your schedule on hold, you can initiate and schedule the appointment right from your smartphone.
Check-Ins
If you have a pre-existing medical condition, it’s no longer necessary to wait until you come home on a school break to see your doctor. Now you can talk to your own doctor about any side-effects you’re experiencing or do a general check-in or follow-up to get your prescriptions refilled all from your dorm room or apartment.
No Germs from the Waiting Room
Do you ever wonder if you risk coming back from the doctor’s office sicker than when you arrived? For a routine well visit, consider a video check-in and avoid it all.
Simple Appointments
Telehealth is a quick and easy way for you to get access to your doctor without the time-consuming, in-person visit. This is especially true for routine issues like the common cold, seasonal allergies, ear infections, sore throat, and even prescription refills. Not having to take time away from class means that you can schedule a video call with your physician from any location, and get fast answers to health questions.
So the next time there’s a need to see a doctor while at school, with telehealth, you or anyone can easily access your own doctor at your convenience by phone, laptop or tablet. No waiting, no germs, and no interrupted class schedule. It only takes a few minutes to set it up, and you’re on your way.
Samant Virk, MD is the CEO and founder of MediSprout.