Has your doctor's office called you prior to a scheduled appointment to ask if you'd rather do a "te

BobsProstate

I asked if there would be a charge and they said yes but not as much as the regular office visit. I'm all for not having to get out and go to the doctor but this just seems like trying to squeeze in as many people as they can without actually seeing them. How are they coming to take blood, check blood pressure, squeeze you, look at you, etc. I'm not feeling the whole move to do medicine by phone or video. At least not when treating my cancer. If I have a runny nose that might be different.

JaneA

Telemedicine can only do so much. My husband has an appt. today that was postponed from March until now. He had an area of dysplasia removed, but they are following it to ensure that nothing new is going on. Physical exam today - both of us were told to wear masks and call when we get to the parking lot. The office is in a cancer treatment center and they are being extremely cautious.

I would say that a conversation via telemedicine is appropriate for "routine" followups or to access the need for a patient to visit in person. We are in uncharted waters.

Molly72

Telemedicine can only do so much IF & WHEN it is available to all!

Bengal

Asked if I'd rather? No. I got a call from three different doctor's offices telling me that my follow-up would be by phone. In each case it was feasible for the most part to do it that way. (I got a laugh from my oncologist when I asked her how she planned to do the manual exam over the phone). I have an appointment coming up with dermatologist and ophthalmologist. In both cases I can't see how they can be conducted by phone. I agree sometimes it makes sense but in many instances a hands on, or eyes on, exam is required. And, as Molly 72 pointed out there are still many places where "telemedicine" is not available.

legaljen1969

My first oncology appointment after surgery was via telemedicine, as we were only discussing results and he was giving me my first prescription. My mother, who was going to come with me to the in person appointment, hurt her back and couldn't take me. When I called to reschedule, they offered me a telemedicine appointment.

LiveWithCancer

My husband goes to the VA for most of his doctor appointments. We were going to have to go to one tomorrow. He got a call yesterday telling him it would take place over the phone. There was no option given. (I was glad since we have to drive 2 hours to get to where he goes for his appointments.)

I have a scan coming next week, with my first oncologist visit since January scheduled the following Monday. I am seriously considering asking if I can get my blood test done when I go for the scan and then just get the results of the scan over the phone. I hate the drive to my clinic and you MUST use valet parking, something I would rather not do right now. (Honestly, I don't like the valet parking under the best of circumstances, but really don't like the idea with the virus still rampant around here.)

If my scans show that I need to get back into treatment, then we could always set up an appointment for the near future and go from there.

cllinda

Now I'm in a different boat. My appointment was today and they were more concerned about the virus than me. She didn't even do a breast exam because of social distancing. She listened to my heart and they did blood pressure. I felt kind of cheated. I could have done a telemedicine for what I got out of this appointment.

Molly72

cllinda,
I Hope your bill reflects the service you received. What a shame

Has anyone else felt as if we are playing second fiddle to covid as far as getting the attention of our physicians and health care workers? I sincerely hope not, but..................

GregP_WN

I can see into the future for the medical field using "telemedicine" to the fullest that they can. Can you imagine you are the doctor and you need to see "X" number of people a day in the office? Now you can sit in your office and probably see twice that many people either by video call or by phone only. As several of you said, they cannot feel my neck and squeeze lymph nodes or do blood tests, take X-rays, etc. But for those that just have a reaction going on, or a side effect is giving you trouble, I would go for that rather than driving 2.5 hours to the doctor's office.

Bengal

Molly72, most definitely. The protocols that have been put in place are to protect both us and the healthcare workers from each other. Unfortunately, our cancers are not going to wait around for coronavirus to finish it's work. We need to have treatment, doctor visits, scans and other tests as usual. I think for the most part that is happening but at a slower pace. It is scary for sure. Telemedicine is great but when it comes to cancer it is limited in application.

legaljen1969

@cllinda, your doctor could get close enough to take your blood pressure and listen to your heart but she couldn't do a breast exam? Now that's ridiculous. What a strange line in the sand.

@GregP_WN, I can see them using telemedicine to get more people in. I hope the insurance agency does not start requiring telemedicine for pretty much everything but life or death trauma. I can definitely see where they might actually deny claims if a person sees a real doctor. I sure hope not.

I agree with the many that say its usefulness in cancer treatment is pretty limited. I hope it remains so.

PaulineJ

My opinion is all crap what the world is doing for so call protection ,instead of believing and trusting God and His promises.
It's all about control and putting fear in people before the tribulation comes.Then forced into having a microchip in you or get killed,etc for being a Child of God and not follow the worldly government.

PaulineJ

We are in the season of the last days believe it or not.Your choice...

legaljen1969

@PaulineJ. I can understand your frustration and sometimes I think parts of it are overkill too, but none of the protective measures we are being asked to do goes against His word. I haven't seen anything that says we will be killed if we don't get microchips. I believe we can be in God's word and still take earthly protective measures.

PaulineJ

Here's your truth
Talking to People at Gas Station While Going to the Beach
https://youtu.be/eiz1Ltyk6ac

PaulineJ

we're not all in this together.

Sasukesuma

It took 6 weeks to get and answer to my phone calls and emails to my PCP. They finally called and told me he was on extended leave. Why couldn’t they have told me that when I explicitly asked the clinic about it. Anyway I eventually
got a telephone call from some doctor I’ve never met and didn’t seem to care. She told me next time I needed an RX refill I would have to have a video conference with a third doctor I’ve never met. Then charged me $121.

LiveWithCancer

I never had to request the telemedicine visit - I got a call today saying that's how it would happen. I'm mostly glad, but ...

With lung cancer, they mostly have to rely on scans anyway ... though my cancer was discovered by an astute doctor who felt a knot that was suspicious (to her ... I had felt it and then promptly forgot it - if I wondered about it at all, I thought it was an ingrown hair or something)

Jayne

I've had a telemedicine appt with my derm last week and 1 more scheduled for this week. What's interesting to me is that none seem to be including video as part of the appt, just a phone call. I sent pictures to my derm of the MOHS surgery site but she said they weren't high resolution enough for her, so she just commented on that in my Duke portal and set a follow up in August to come in. It will be interesting to see what the charges are, but she did say if was expensive to let her know. The other one this week is with a colorectal surgeon regarding some issues I've been experiencing. Both of these telemedicine appointments have been at my request. It will be interesting to see how this topic progresses. With half the world using Zoom, I don't see why the doc's can't as well - maybe HIPAA related?

GregP_WN

Jayne, I think it's a matter of the doctor's offices not getting up to speed yet on the technology and maybe even getting used to doing these on camera. It's coming though.

Bengal

I have a dermatology appointment day after tomorrow. IMO this is something the doctor needs to see. Haven't heard yet whether I will be going in it it will be by phone. He can't look at these lesions over the phone. I'm just afraid with this move toward telemedicine some doctors will just start letting things slide because they are not seeing their patients up close and personal and will not be fully aware of what is going on. This is especially true with Cancer patients who require the hands on approach to literally feel or see tumor growth. Just sayin'.

Bengal

Just got the call. My dermatology appointment will be in person on Wednesday. Yay. He really needs to see this. All kinds of protocols in place. Call from parking lot, wait in vehicle until they call you in, have to wear mask. All good.