Doctor On Demand: Is This What Your Health Care Regimen is Missing?
A doctor on demand may be exactly what your healthcare routine is missing. You have a primary care doctor, a dentist, an eye doctor, a dermatologist, and possibly a gynecologist, but do you have an accessible way of reaching a health care professional during an urgent, non-emergency situation?
Colds, cases of flu, sore throats, stomach pains—whatever the sudden ailment may be—it is not waiting for two or more days it can take to get an in-person consultation. These are the situations in which you want to have a doctor on demand. How does your primary physician determine if you are sick? You go to the office, sit in the waiting room, then wait again in the exam room, and when they finally come in, you talk. You tell them your symptoms; they ask some clarifying questions and possibly take a look at your ears, nose, and throat, and then they determine the best form of treatment. A doctor on demand does the same thing; they just examine you virtually.
Without ever having to leave your house, you can schedule an appointment, consult with a board-certified online physician, and determine your treatment options in no time. Don’t let the novelty or unfamiliarity of online health care scare you from making a choice that could optimize your well-being! Read on to discover what, how, and where you can find a doctor on demand who will provide high-quality healthcare.
What is a Doctor on Demand?
A “doctor on demand” is a medical physician who utilizes a telehealth platform to perform a virtual consultation. These appointments are for non-emergency matters and are typically used to treat conditions that do not require a physical examination, blood tests, or other forms of screening to reach a diagnosis and treatment option. Reputable telehealth platforms require physicians to be board-certified and licensed to provide trusted and high-quality health care to patients who are using the platform.
Using a doctor on demand provides an easy, quick, and secure way to satisfy your health care needs. Physicians treating patients through telemedicine platforms include primary care doctors, gynecologists, dermatologists, psychiatrists, therapists, and many more. Their goal is to provide safe and accurate care to their patients. They are just like your primary care provider, but online or over the phone!
Where to Find an Online Doctor
Finding a doctor on demand can feel like a tricky, stressful task; however, those feelings can be attributed to misconceptions and miscommunications. It is quite possible that your current physician offers online consultation services, but it does not hurt to have more than one option readily available. At the very least, if you are not able to see your doctor on the same day, it is helpful to have a secure and reputable backup in the form of a trustworthy doctor on demand.
As previously mentioned, it does not hurt to ask your doctor if they offer online services. If they don’t, you still have plenty of options to discover which telehealth platform is right for your doctor on demand. Check with your health insurance provider. Many times, your health insurance company will have an affiliated network of doctors on demand that can attend to your requirements and provide quality care and treatment. If your insurance company does not offer this, or if you are uninsured or underinsured, you still have a great opportunity to find an excellent healthcare provider! Take your search online and find a doctor-on-demand provider that meets your needs. Online healthcare providers are required to be licensed in the state in which they are practicing, and the website must fully investigate their physicians to make sure they have the proper credentials.
What a Doctor on Demand Can Treat
A doctor on demand can treat many of the same conditions that are treated by your regular doctor. A few conditions that your online doctor is not able to treat are ailments that require a physical assessment to make a diagnosis, and any treatment requiring the use of controlled substances.
Most doctors-on-demand platforms provide some form of care for onset illnesses, mild injuries, and conditions. Others provide health care services for dermatology, STD testing, nutrition, and everyday care. While each telehealth platform is different and offers a unique set of services, many of them offer doctor-on-demand services for the following circumstances:
- Allergies
- Sore throat
- Runny nose
- Fever
- Cold
- Cough
- Flu
- Constipation
- Diarrhea
- Ear problems
- Headache
- Insect bites
- Nausea
- UTIs
- Vomiting
- Pink eye
- Anxiety
- Depression
- Acne
- Eczema
- Psoriasis
- Rosacea
- And so much more!
How to Pay for a Doctor on Demand
Typically, when you visit your doctor’s office, you pay for a fraction of the visit as soon as you walk up to the front desk. This is your co-pay, and depending on your insurance, the co-pay for a single doctor’s visit can cost anywhere from $15 to $50. The kind of care you are receiving or the doctor that you are seeing can influence these costs, and some doctors do not accept your or any other health insurance provider’s plans.
Paying for a doctor-on-demand consultation can be much easier than in most doctor-office situations. Depending on the telehealth platform that you are using for your virtual visit, there is usually more than one method of accepted payment. Some doctor-on-demand services accept all insurances; others only select insurance plans; and a few do not accept any insurance plans at all. It is best to shop around and find an online healthcare provider that fits both your financial and wellness needs.
When choosing, it is best to pay attention to whether or not your doctor on demand accepts insurance – particularly your insurance provider. Then you will need to determine if they charge a flat rate, or charge a rate based on the time they spend with you or the services that they are providing. It’s best to fully understand the pay structure of the doctor-on-demand platform that you plan on using before you commit to registering for the service and scheduling an appointment.
Frequently Asked Questions
Will my doctor on demand keep my information secure and private?
Your doctor-on-demand visit is subjected to the same set of confidentiality and patient safety rules and protocols as a visit to the doctor’s office. Online healthcare platforms are required to abide by HIPAA laws and maintain any sensitive patient information on high-security servers. As long as you are conducting your online appointment on a reputable and trustworthy website, you can rest assured that your consultations are confidential and that your information is safe.
Where can my online doctor conduct our virtual appointment?
Your doctor-on-demand physician is only allowed to conduct your appointment in a private setting. For some, this is a clinic or an office within their practice. Some doctors on demand attend their consultations from home, like you! However, they are required to conduct the visit in a private home office away from any family and friends. Ultimately, the same level of high expectations and importance is placed on your privacy during a virtual appointment.
What are the benefits of using a doctor on demand?
There are many benefits to scheduling an appointment with a doctor on demand. Your consultation and treatment are handled in a timely manner from the comfort of your own home. You save time by reducing travel to an office and can save money, as many physicians on demand charge rates that are lower than those of a physical office. Virtual healthcare services are also very helpful to those who do not live in areas where quality care is accessible and affordable.
What equipment do I need for my doctor-on-demand appointment?
Other than a computer or phone with internet access and possibly a camera, there is no required equipment needed for your appointment with your doctor on demand. For those seeking treatment for chronic issues, it may be helpful to have some peripheral equipment and devices, but that is something that is discussed with your healthcare provider and is specific on a case-by-case basis.
Get Started on Scheduling Your Doctor-on-Demand Appointment Right Now on Telegra MD!
Telegra MD is an online healthcare platform that lets you schedule a doctor-on-demand visit with highly qualified, licensed, and board-certified physicians. Registration is simple, quick, and requires the same kind of information and medical history that you would share at your regular doctor’s office.
With access to doctors on demand 24 hours a day, seven days a week, you are never without access to excellent health care. Telegra MD has physicians available to treat your urgent, non-emergency needs, dermatology concerns, and therapeutic and psychiatric needs. Payment has never been more straightforward: flat rates are clearly displayed, and your cost may even be lower depending on your insurance provider.
