Telemedicine or In-Person Visit? Here are some things to consider

As COVID-19 fueled a surge in remote visits for medical and mental health care, health experts expect telehealth to remain a permanent fixture even as the pandemic wanes. For patients, advantages abound, including the convenience of receiving care in their home and workplace and without the time commitment of traveling to an in-person appointment.

What’s more, a growing number of states require commercial plans and other managed care plans to pay providers for virtual appointments on par with what they’d make for in-person care. Before scheduling an appointment, medical experts recommend following these tips. Secure access to a laptop, tablet or smartphone to connect to your doctor’s office’s virtual meeting platform.

Take photos of certain medical issues so doctor’s can view them more closely. Know your vitals through at-home tools, such as blood pressure and pulse rate monitors.