Telemedicine: Keeping you healthy and safe

Telemedicine isn’t new, though up until now it hasn’t been as widely used as you might expect for the digital age. However, the COVID-19 global pandemic has made keeping your distance from others essential, and telemedicine offers a great way to connect with your health care provider while minimizing your risk of contracting or spreading the virus.

At Progressive Women’s Health in Friendswood, Texas, telemedicine has already been a part of our practice for patients looking for a convenient way to meet their health care needs. Now, more than ever, Asia Mohsin, MD, or a nurse from our team will be happy to visit with you remotely via a telemedicine appointment. 

If you're new to telemedicine, you may have questions about how it works. We’ve curated this guide to give you all the details.

Telemedicine 101

Telemedicine started as a way to help patients and health care professionals connect more conveniently. While in-person appointments may be necessary for certain diagnoses or tests, many common issues don’t require a physical exam. Telemedicine allows your health care provider to diagnose and treat you remotely from the comfort of your own home. 

Easy access to your care provider

Whether you’re quarantined or simply too far away to attend an in-person visit, telemedicine allows you access to your health care provider from your own home through a phone, computer, or tablet.

Saves you time and money

Telemedicine saves you time by cutting out the time you would normally spend traveling back and forth to appointments and waiting to be seen. In addition, since you don’t have to spend money on gas or bus fare to get to your appointment, telemedicine may save you money. 

More and more popular

Recent studies show that the use of telemedicine in America increased by 52% between 2005–2017. It’s projected to grow by leaps and bounds in the months and years to come. If you haven’t tried telemedicine before, now might be the time to give it a try as more people than ever are making use of this convenient modality. 

Covered by insurance and Medicare

Most states already require private insurers to cover telemedicine services. What’s more? Congress recently passed an emergency measure expanding Medicare coverage of telemedicine by $83 billion to make it easier for Medicare patients to access telemedicine services. 

Telemedicine and OB/GYN care

At Progressive Women’s Health, Dr. Mohsin and our compassionate team offer OB/GYN telemedicine services. While not all services are available remotely, many common questions, concerns, and conditions can be addressed, including:

• Prescription refills
• Follow-up appointments
• Birth control consultations
• Healthy lifestyle and nutrition education
• Prenatal counseling
• Discussions about lab or imaging results
• Specialist referrals for complex cases
• Consultations about routine OB/GYN issues, such as urinary tract infections, sexually transmitted diseases, vaginal discharges, vaginal bleeding, etc.

Comprehensive physical exams and pelvic exams cannot be completed during a telemedicine appointment, but if you have visible symptoms of a medical condition, you can show Dr. Mohsin using your phone, computer, or tablet. 

What is a telemedicine appointment like?

First request an appointment using our online tool or by contacting the office. During your scheduled telemedicine appointment, Dr. Mohsin will call you. You’ll discuss your symptoms with Dr. Mohsin, and she’ll review your medical history with you. 

Any noticeable and visible symptoms you have can be shared using your phone, computer, or tablet. If Dr. Mohsin determines further testing or examination is required, she’ll let you know and will help you schedule an appointment. 

At Progressive Women’s Health, our goal is to keep you healthy and safe. To learn more about our telemedicine appointments, book an appointment online or over the phone today.