Telemedicine: Which Option is Best for You?

(NOTE: This Telemedicine blog was updated July 20 with information on COVID-19 safety.)

Modern telemedicine services offer you a simple, secure and easy way to meet with primary or specialty healthcare providers from wherever you are—home, office, car, hospital bed, everywhere—using a smart phone, tablet, or computer.

You receive the same level of compassionate, exceptional healthcare that you would expect during an actual office or outpatient visit, or bedside visit in the hospital. 

What is Telemedicine and who is it for? 

Telemedicine is a catch-all term for our virtual visit services. The first type of virtual visit is Lee TeleHealth, available 24/7, seven days a week, to connect you with a doctor or provider for urgent care needs.

These are visits that are NOT emergencies and fall under Urgent Care services:

• Cold and flu
• UTIs
• Sinus infection
• Rash
• Pink eye
• Headaches
• Referrals
• Prescriptions
• General questions and more

Need to see someone ASAP?

Don’t have a primary care doctor or can’t get an immediate appointment with yours? Don’t have an appointment and need to see someone right away because you don’t feel well, have a minor injury, or can’t leave the house? Lee TeleHealth is your answer. Log on for video chat or phone chat. It’s your choice!

Lee TeleHealth also helps people who have transportation problems or have a problem after hours or on weekends.  

Is TeleHealth a good option to be screened for COVID-19?

Yes, TeleHealth is an excellent option for many patients. Since the pandemic, approximately 800 people participate in telehealth every day. This is both convenient and the best possible way to avoid spreading illness. Lee TeleHealth physicians and providers are trained on proper COVID-19 protocols. If they think you require testing, they will walk you through your next steps.

However, not everything can be treated through a video visit. We want our patients to know we are here for them if they need to be seen in person. We are taking every precaution to prioritize the safety of our patients and colleagues. 

If you DO need to be seen in person, please remember that all Lee Health facilities and office operate under STRICT safety protocols that involve masks, social distancing, and other precautions. Don't delay your care when you need it!

More Options: MyChart

The second type of telemedicine option is through MyChart, which lets Lee Health patients access their medical information all in one place. It’s easy, safe, and secure. MyChart visits are perfect for simple checkups and non-urgent care check-ins with your doctor.

If you have a MyChart account, you can do the following and more from your computer, tablet or smart phone:

• Make an appointment for a video visit or telephone consultation with your doctor. These visits are virtual “face-to-face” visits with your doctor, who will appear on the screen of your laptop, tablet, or phone. Doctors and other providers are trained to evaluate conditions this way through observations and questions. They can also order tests and use technology to check your vital signs.
• MyChart is your online resource for non-urgent care and non-emergencies
• Send a confidential message to your medical care team
• Get online diagnosis and treatment
• Call-only consultations (no video)
• Arrange to follow up with a doctor in person, depending on the level of care you need

If you don’t have a MyChart account, you can sign up for one only if you have been seen by a Lee Health provider and have a Lee Health medical record.

Signup is easy and fast. To register for a new MyChart account on your computer, go here. For your table or smartphone, you’ll need the MyChart app, which Apple users can get here and Android users here.

Other Telemedicine uses 

We know having loved ones at your hospital bedside matters, especially during times when visits are restricted for patient safety reasons. Lee Health has devoted its considerable technological expertise in our telemedicine services because we're devoted to you.

For patients who don’t have smart devices to connect with their loved ones, Lee Health hospitals offers iPads to do exactly that! With a little help from one of our staff members, patients can video chat with family and friends.

Telemedicine ensures your safety in the hospital

If you have to visit the emergency department (ED) or are admitted to the hospital, we’re taking care of your safety first and foremost. Lee Health uses telemedicine as one of many ways to ensure the safety of your health.

In our emergency departments, ED physicians and staff use telemedicine to minimize exposure as they virtually communicate with patients. This helps us make sure we take the proper precautions and get you the right treatment.

In the hospitals, when our hospitalists and specialists conduct “virtual rounds” on patients with suspected or positive COVID-19, they use telemedicine. Our providers are able to talk with patients, use a stethoscope to virtually listen to their lungs, heart and abdomen, and consult with them and case nurses to develop treatment plans.