Virtual healthcare (Telemedicine)
Southeast EndocrinologyTelemedicine technology enhances the opportunities for our patients to receive their healthcare closer to home, eliminating the need to travel long distances to see a provider. It also allows our providers to literally be in more than one place at a time, even if those locations are many miles apart.
Reviewed 10/14/2022
Telehealth: Tips for a great video visit
Telehealth is a convenient way to visit with your doctor from home using your smartphone or computer.
If you haven't tried a video visit with your doctor yet, here are some tips to help you have a successful first appointment.
CHOOSE YOUR DEVICE
You can use a smartphone, tablet, laptop or desktop computer for your visit. You may need to download an app for your smartphone or software for your computer. Ask what programs you'll need when you call to make the appointment.
Also ask for a contact number you can call in case there's a problem during your video visit. That way you can continue your visit over the phone, if necessary.
CHOOSE A QUIET, WELL-LIGHTED SPACE FOR YOUR VISIT
Find a private area in your house to visit with your doctor. Look for a place free of distractions and interruptions. Light should be coming from overhead or in front of you. You want to avoid glare from light behind you.
PREPARE PAPERWORK AHEAD OF TIME
Your doctor may send forms over for you to complete before the visit. They may ask for things such as:
- Your medical history.
- What medications you take.
- Your pharmacy phone number.
- Insurance information.
TAKE ANY VITAL SIGNS YOU CAN
Your doctor's office can tell you what information they need. They may ask for things like your weight, temperature and blood pressure (if you have a home monitor).
FIND OUT ABOUT INSURANCE COVERAGE
Check with your insurance provider to make sure you understand potential costs, including co-pays, ahead of the visit.
WRITE DOWN QUESTIONS BEFORE YOUR VISIT
You may be distracted by the new technology and not remember everything you wanted to ask your doctor. So write down your questions beforehand.
TEST YOUR CAMERA AND AUDIO SETTINGS
Set your camera at eye-level. Be sure your microphone is turned on and working and that your volume level is up so you can hear. Use headphones or earbuds to ensure that you hear clearly and have the privacy you need. You may also want to try having a video chat with a family member or friend a few days before your appointment to test your equipment.
PLUG IN IF POSSIBLE
If you're using a smartphone for the visit, make sure there's a strong Wi-Fi or mobile signal where you'll be sitting. If you're using a computer, consider plugging directly into the internet instead of using Wi-Fi.
Either have your device plugged in or choose a spot near a power source to ensure that you don't run out of battery in the middle of the visit.
CLOSE ALL OTHER PROGRAMS
Having unnecessary programs running on your device can lower the quality of your video chat.
TAKE OUR TELEHEALTH QUIZ
Virtual visits can be useful for a number of health concerns. Test your knowledge and find out how much you know!
Sources: AARP; American Academy of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology; American Heart Association
Using this technology creates efficiency for our patients and providers by reducing travel and eliminates distance as a barrier to accessing healthcare services. Our team is committed to providing our patients and providers alike the best experience possible when using this technology for patient care. We encourage evaluations of our performance for every encounter.
Telemedicine Services
Currently we offer various levels of virtual healthcare in the following areas:
- Behavioral health
- Endocrinology
- Hematology
- Critical care
How Virtual Visits Work
- Virtual visits typically take place in one of our offices and allow you to see a specialist who is in a different location. A person will be in the room with you helping the provider with the exam. This could be another doctor, a nurse or other healthcare person trained in this technology.
- A video screen allows you to see and talk to your provider. There may be a "picture in a picture" so you can see yourself as you talk.
- There may be more than one camera. One camera lets you and the provider talk. Another camera is for the exam and to make pictures larger to help the doctor get a closer look.
- The general exam camera magnifies what the provider is able to see.
- A dermascope is used for a close look at the skin.
- There may be a stethoscope so your provider can listen to your lungs and heart.
Most treatments are based on the information you give to your provider. The provider uses the physical exam to understand the problem. Most health problems can be successfully managed using telemedicine. There are times when the provider will ask you to come to the office for a visit.
Computer programs are not perfect and can fail. We have done our best to make sure all the tools and links work well for you and your provider. There will be times the program fails because of reasons out of our control. In those cases, the healthcare staff member in the room will help you talk with your provider.
If you have any questions or concerns, please feel free to talk with any of the staff involved in your healthcare visit.
Virtual Nursing
Virtual nursing is a new program that uses video technology to connect you and a registered nurse using the TV set in your room. Talking with a virtual nurse is just like talking to a nurse at your bedside. Having a virtual nurse is like adding an extra caregiver to your nursing team.
Every patient room has a TV, camera, speaker and microphone that lets you use our virtual nursing service. Your virtual nurse will always ask for permission before he or she turns on the camera so the two of you can communicate. You will always know then the camera is on. When you see a rainbow circle of lights on your TV, that means the camera is turned off.
Your virtual nurse can:
- Get your medical history
- Get your medication history
- Provide education on health topics that pertain to your diagnosis
- Help coordinate discharge plans
- Check in on you every few hours
- Answer any questions you may have
Your bedside nurse can:
- Give you your medications
- Perform medical assessments
- Administer treatments
- Provide the direct care you need based on your diagnosis
- Provide emotional support
- Answer any questions you or your family may have
Transitional Care Virtual Post-Discharge Visits
Following discharge from the hospital, a patient and/or their caregiver may need assistance while at home with the following:
- Properly setting up and/or using medical equipment such as wound VACCs, oxygen equipment, blood sugar meters or insulin supplies etc.
- Cleaning or emptying surgical drains or tubes
- Evaluating breathing and breathe rate
- Monitoring and educating on any swelling/edema
- Education on and assessing for signs and symptoms of wound-site infection
- Education on new medications or any other medical concerns
With Southeast Virtual Health, patients receive FREE follow-up appointments for up to 30 days post-discharge via their phone, tablet or computer with a transitional care nurse or respiratory therapist. This service ensures patients recover properly and aren't readmitted to the hospital.
A simple video call could save you a trip to the ER and it's FREE.
Staff are available to set up your virtual health appointment between 9am and 3pm, Monday – Friday. Call us at 573.331.6899.
Frequently Asked Questions About Virtual Care
You can talk to and see your providers via a computer monitor and internet connection. The providers examine and diagnose you with the help of special cameras.
No. Your provider will tell you when you need a face-to-face visit. When you live far away from the provider, telemedicine can save time and make scheduling easier for everyone.
No. The visit is just like an in-office visit. While a camera may be used to visualize a body part for swelling or other type of evaluation, the picture cannot be saved.
This device is as secure as being in the provider's office. The communication between Cape Girardeau and the outlying location is encrypted so no outside person can witness the interaction.