topic Re: My Doctor doing Phone Appointments in Community Chat

My Doctor doing Phone Appointments

Katcat1 — Fri, 10 Apr 2020 19:29:46 GMT

My Pulmonary doctor will do a dr. visit over the phone if you don't want to come in. I honestly do not know if the office is open or not. I had sent an email telling the doctor I wanted to reschedule because I am a high risk person but I received a call today saying the dr. will do the visit over the phone. It's okay with me. Anyone else doing phone visits?

Re: My Doctor doing Phone Appointments

Stevie Nix — Fri, 10 Apr 2020 19:38:05 GMT

My Rheumatologist (sp?) called me to schedule a phone appointment. I haven't reached out to any other doctors.

Re: My Doctor doing Phone Appointments

Kachina624 — Fri, 10 Apr 2020 19:46:42 GMT

By reports here on the boards I'm assuming most, if not all, doctors are doing visits by phone. I had one 2 weeks ago which was a total waste of time. My annual eye exam appointment, made 4 months ago, was canceled. Heavens knows when I'll be able to reschedule, and I really need to see that doctor.

Re: My Doctor doing Phone Appointments

sunshine45 — Fri, 10 Apr 2020 19:55:47 GMT

i think all of our doctors and our dentist are only doing appointments for true emergencies. all appointments are being done over the phone or with zoom.

Re: My Doctor doing Phone Appointments

spent2much — Fri, 10 Apr 2020 19:56:25 GMT

The only doctor I see (monthly) is my pain doc. A PA from his office called me the other day at my regular appointment time. We used Telemedicine. My laptop has a camera, so I could see him and he could see me. It was kinda weird, but it worked!

Re: My Doctor doing Phone Appointments

Renata22 — Fri, 10 Apr 2020 20:06:37 GMT

Hubby had one yesterday with the cardiologist. Went well.

Re: My Doctor doing Phone Appointments

Tadaki — Fri, 10 Apr 2020 20:16:55 GMT

@Katcat1 wrote:
My Pulmonary doctor will do a dr. visit over the phone if you don't want to come in. I honestly do not know if the office is open or not. I had sent an email telling the doctor I wanted to reschedule because I am a high risk person but I received a call today saying the dr. will do the visit over the phone. It's okay with me. Anyone else doing phone visits?

You could at least give it a try and see if it works for you. Sounds like in-person is available if you think you need it. Going out right now in my area is so stressful that I would try it.

Re: My Doctor doing Phone Appointments

gidgetgh — Fri, 10 Apr 2020 20:24:30 GMT

Our eye doctor is still open.

We did a face time appt two weeks ago with our primary after my husband stumbled in the night in the bathroom and had a pretty nasty bleeding abrasion. Appt went fine, but it was a basic appt.

Today I got an automated call from his cancer doctor reminding us of a follow up appt for this coming Tuesday. Hmmmm.....I, who ALWAYS have appts on my phone calendar, but didn't have that one. I called them back and said nope, we are not coming and I rescheduled to June.

Re: My Doctor doing Phone Appointments

I am still oxox — Fri, 10 Apr 2020 20:31:21 GMT

I am doing a Telemed appointment with my immunologist on Monday

Re: My Doctor doing Phone Appointments

Peaches McPhee — Fri, 10 Apr 2020 20:49:07 GMT

I did that earlier last week! I had a PCP annual physical scheduled for months, and they changed to a phone conference instead. I can check the case note on line, and the doctor had put in exactly how much time he spent with me, probably for billing. I will be interested in seeing what that "visit" cosst me. (I have a high deductable insurance plan, so I will get a bill). I guess it makes sense if you are not actually sick and just need to check in or have Rx renewed. Look for this to be the way of the future, even after COVID is done.

Re: My Doctor doing Phone Appointments

Mz iMac — Fri, 10 Apr 2020 20:51:12 GMT

I live in N.J. (South Jersey)

My eye doctor is closed. Rescheduled eye exam for the end of May.

"At this time" there is no way in he11 I would visit a doctor in person.

For emergencies, I would have to think about it. I probably would call an ambulance to take me to the ER as it's not overcrowded w/Covid patients in my town/county like they are in North Joisey.

Re: My Doctor doing Phone Appointments

Tadaki — Fri, 10 Apr 2020 21:01:31 GMT

@Peaches McPhee wrote:
I did that earlier last week! I had a PCP annual physical scheduled for months, and they changed to a phone conference instead. I can check the case note on line, and the doctor had put in exactly how much time he spent with me, probably for billing. I will be interested in seeing what that "visit" cosst me. (I have a high deductable insurance plan, so I will get a bill). I guess it makes sense if you are not actually sick and just need to check in or have Rx renewed. Look for this to be the way of the future, even after COVID is done.

@Peaches McPhee This is exactly what I've been thinking and not just in regard to doctors. Wondering if some of these changes will stay in place. It's rare to be in a position of truly re-thinking how things are done.

Re: My Doctor doing Phone Appointments

meem120 — Fri, 10 Apr 2020 21:10:40 GMT

Theyre also doing it now, because Insurance companies are finally paying for these visits. Otherwise they would be losing money or having the patient come in to be able to submit the visit. Medicine is big business and the docs and the corporations that hire them arent giving their expertise away for free!

Re: My Doctor doing Phone Appointments

NYC Susan — Sat, 11 Apr 2020 03:08:26 GMT

I've had a few video visits with doctors in the last few weeks. Two were FaceTime, the others were on the practice's own app. Video visits are pretty common now.

They were great. Not as thorough as in-person, of course, but they definitely have some benefit especially now when visits to medical offices are pretty much out of the question for many people. I was very happy to have that option, and I'm sure I'll be doing it again.

(One was with an opthalmologist, and he asked that I send photos of my eye to him via text so he could have a close look. We then FaceTimed, and it worked out really well.)

Re: My Doctor doing Phone Appointments

NYC Susan — Sat, 11 Apr 2020 05:44:50 GMT

@Peaches McPhee wrote:
I did that earlier last week! I had a PCP annual physical scheduled for months, and they changed to a phone conference instead. I can check the case note on line, and the doctor had put in exactly how much time he spent with me, probably for billing. I will be interested in seeing what that "visit" cosst me. (I have a high deductable insurance plan, so I will get a bill). I guess it makes sense if you are not actually sick and just need to check in or have Rx renewed. Look for this to be the way of the future, even after COVID is done.

I am actually sick, and I thought it made a lot of sense when I did it. It was a good way to get medical care without having to go out with respiratory symptoms that could have endangered others. I think it's great that people who are sick or injured can be face to face with their doctors when needed in a more efficient and safer way.

Re: My Doctor doing Phone Appointments

patbz — Sat, 11 Apr 2020 03:49:42 GMT

DH and I had remote appointments this week with our hospitality and our appointments went very well. As we live three hours from our doctor (he is in Peoria AZ and we are in Show Low) we both feel that doing it this way every other appointment would save us time and money (hotel and 400 mile round trip); will suggest this to our Doctor when this is all over. I'm sure that many things will be different once this is over including better leave policies, bringing strategic manufacturing back in country, fewer service workers, less hand shaking, more sticking up (hoarding), safer, healthier ships/planes. The list is endless!

Re: My Doctor doing Phone Appointments

shoekitty — Sat, 11 Apr 2020 05:34:34 GMT

To tell you the truth, a phone appt is the same to me as one of the 3 month check ups. They just ask a bunch of questions, no different than going to office, lol Aside from taking my blood pressure my internist hasn't seen me without clothes for a check up in 5 years, lol of course if I had any issues, or something I needed to show him , Iwould go in

As for now, My phone appt went well, and I rather liked it. I live an hour or so in traffic to my doctors, it is an all day adventure for us.

Re: My Doctor doing Phone Appointments

NAES1 — Sat, 11 Apr 2020 06:10:12 GMT

@Kachina624 wrote:
By reports here on the boards I'm assuming most, if not all, doctors are doing visits by phone. I had one 2 weeks ago which was a total waste of time. My annual eye exam appointment, made 4 months ago, was canceled. Heavens knows when I'll be able to reschedule, and I really need to see that doctor.

________________________

I am 99% thinking of cancelling my Ophthalmologist appointment for this Tuesday/ 14th.

If so inclined, would yours be eye level testing, anything macular degeneration to retina?

@Kachina624

Re: My Doctor doing Phone Appointments

Kachina624 — Sat, 11 Apr 2020 21:58:57 GMT

@NAES1 I bet your appointment has been canceled and you just don't know it. Mine was the 24th and they hadn't called me; I called them. I can't imagine they'd be doing eye exams, all things considered.

Yes I'm in the beginning stages of MD, and my vision has decreased markedly the past year. Both of my parents had it so it didn't come as a surprise. I need new glasses badly.

Re: My Doctor doing Phone Appointments

NAES1 — Sat, 11 Apr 2020 22:40:53 GMT

@Kachina624 ~ I had remembered that from February of 2019. That's why I asked:

I was in question. Wondering. Had the situation gone from 'M' to one of the other two. Eye pressure elevation, or wet- to dry?

I have a very close wonderful physician friend that specializes in MD.

I will be more than happy asking him any questions you may have. Also, understand this through him.

Mine was a general 6 month follow up due to a small pea size cataract. Absolutely, totally insane having eyes EXPOSED to any machinery being used that close to eyes after so many patients.

THE* > Perfect intro source to contact this.

It's not only the mouth, and nasal entrances.

I have learned that the ONE sneeze w/ ( cOv19) travels 27 meters through the spray...as powerful as an aerosol liquid sprayed directly 'shot' at anyone. The old 6ft away is becoming old information with safety, if sneezing / coughing, and who really knows, if whom, is a carrier?

Very little do I take to the bank what the so called ` experts` are trying to explain. I am being my own advocate, at this time.

Thank you, dear friend. You are one of the more astute posters, here.