Telemedicine: Your guide to virtual care
Telemedicine: Your guide to virtual care
What is telemedicine?
Telemedicine (sometimes referred to as telehealth or video visits) appointments let you speak to and see a doctor in real time using video chat technology, similar to FaceTime or Skype.
Using a secure network, your doctor can discuss your symptoms, examine, diagnose and treat you the same way they would in the office. You can even get a prescription.
These interactive, virtual visits are safe — and everything is right at your doctor’s fingertips for review and interpretation before and during your visit.
The best part? You can attend the appointment from the comfort of your home.
What you need for a telemedicine appointment
For a successful virtual doctor visit, the following are recommended:
Benefits of telemedicine
If you live far away or if your busy schedule makes it difficult to fit in appointments with your doctor, telemedicine video visits can help make staying on top of your health easier. Here’s how:
- No travel or parking
- Less waiting
- Less time away from work or school
- Flexibility to see your doctor at your convenience
How does telemedicine work?
With a virtual visit, you and your doctor will be able to see and hear each other through video chat technology.
During your visit, your doctor will examine you, ask questions about your symptoms and discuss any tests, procedures, medications or follow-up appointments, if needed.
After your exam, they’ll review any instructions and answer any questions you may have — just like a regular appointment.
When should I use telemedicine?
Telemedicine can’t always replace face-to-face care, but it’s a great option for routine and some specialty care appointments.
You can schedule a virtual visit with a Geisinger doctor for routine care, including:
- Cold
- Flu
- Allergy
- Rash
- Sinus infection
- Urinary tract infection (UTI)
We also offer virtual visits for specialty care, including:
- Adult psychology (telepsychiatry)
- Pediatric psychology
- Family medicine (primary care)
- Dermatology (teledermatology)
- Fertility
- General pediatrics
- Pediatric specialties
- Nephrology (kidney care)
- Cardiology
- Gastroenterology
- ENT
- Endocrinology
- Sleep disorders
- Pulmonology
- Stroke care
- Rheumatology
- Neurology and neurosurgery
- Orthopaedics
- Nutrition and weight management
- Infectious diseases
- Diabetes care
- Psychiatry
- Radiation oncology
- Internal medicine
- Allergy and immunology
- Occupational therapy
- Pain management
- Maternal-fetal medicine (MFM)
- And many others