A Virtual Visit for Better Health | MyHealthy Decisions

In this Health & Wellness issue of MyHealthy Decisions, learn more about how nature, telemedicine, and lifestyle simplifications can improve your physical and mental health.

TeleMedicine

When they landed on the moon in 1969, Neil Armstrong and the rest of the Apollo 11 crew made history in a way you may not know: The astronauts were wearing devices that allowed NASA to monitor their health in space.

Today, that early example of what’s now known as telemedicine has taken a strong hold in health care down here on Earth as many of our practitioners and patients are using this innovation to communicate.

Nice to ‘See’ You, Doc!

Telemedicine (sometimes referred to as telehealth) uses computers, phones, and mobile devices to deliver care remotely. With this techy treatment style, you may find yourself at home video chatting, emailing, or texting your clinician about a medical concern or a chronic condition, such as diabetes or heart failure. Devices can even send real-time data to your practitioner about your heart, blood pressure, or blood glucose.

“Telemedicine is changing the face of how we deliver health care,” says Steven J. Heneghan, MD, FACS, Bassett Healthcare Network’s Chief Clinical Officer. “It’s smart, efficient, and can bring services to patients — right in their homes. As we navigate a new world after the spread of COVID-19, telemedicine has become a key tool in providing care. Bassett Healthcare Network is proud to be on the forefront of telemedicine in our region.”

Real Care and Convenience

Telemedicine may not work for every health care situation, but it has proved useful for a wide variety of reasons. Some examples include:

• Senior citizens who are too frail to leave home may find video chatting with their doctors a good solution for getting care.
• Your practitioner may conduct a live videoconference to consult with a specialist — in a distant location — after seeing you. Together they can look at your electronically transmitted medical images to create a treatment plan.
• Diabetes patients may send their blood sugar and blood pressure readings, via a computer or phone, to a nurse for ongoing monitoring.