5 Benefits of Seeing an Online Doctor

It goes without saying, but no one likes to be sick. Not only can it be debilitating and interfere with your daily life (work, school, family, etc.) but illnesses often manifest when you least expect them to; prompting you to seek immediate health care in order to get on the path to recovery.

Unfortunately, not everyone is in the position to visit a doctor’s office or emergency room at a moment’s notice. Maybe they don’t have insurance and can’t afford it. Or, perhaps their busy schedule simply won’t allow it. Whatever the case, having a convenient and affordable option for care can sometimes be imperative. Luckily, this is possible with telehealth services.

What is Telehealth?

According to statistics from the American Medical Association and Wellness Council of America, nearly 75% of all doctor visits are either unnecessary or could be handled safely and effectively through telehealth.

Telehealth (or telemedicine) allows patients to be seen for a wide range of non-life threatening conditions from anywhere — including their own homes. Typically, a telehealth visit is conducted via phone or webcam with an online doctor who will discuss your symptoms,  provide medical advice and — in some cases — prescribe medication to help you feel better.

It’s obvious that telehealth has a range of benefits, but let’s explore them in detail to help you gain a better understanding of why it is quickly becoming one of the main ways patients receive care today.

The Benefits of Seeing an Online Doctor

1. It’s More Convenient

According to AJMC (American Journal of Medical Care), the average outpatient visit is 121 minutes (just over 2 hours). Most of that time is spent on traveling to and waiting inside the clinic or emergency room.

With telehealth, patients can be seen by a virtual doctor quickly from the comfort of their own homes, without needing to waste time on traveling to a clinic and waiting in line. As previously mentioned, not everyone has the time to physically visit a healthcare provider — especially if you happen to live a long distance away from an urgent care clinic or hospital. Telehealth allows these individuals to be seen no matter where they are or how busy their schedules happen to be.

2. It Prevents Exposure to Sick Patients

As you probably know, clinics and ER’s see a large amount of sick patients on a daily basis. Unfortunately, this means you could be exposing yourself to viruses — like the flu or something worse — by visiting one of these facilities.

 This is even more concerning right now, with the COVID-19 pandemic still rippling through the entire country. While you can wear a mask when visiting a healthcare facility, why take the risk? Especially if you belong to the most vulnerable group of individuals (the elderly or those with comorbidities).

With an online doctor you don’t need to risk exposing yourself to illnesses — like COVID-19 — by visiting a facility as you can be seen from home.

3. It’s More Affordable

Besides being convenient and safe, telehealth is also one of the most cost-effective ways to get the care you need.

No matter what non-life threatening condition you’re dealing with, a visit with an online doctor is guaranteed to be more affordable than a trip to an actual clinic.

For example: a televisit from Statcare Urgent & Walk-In Medical — a reputable urgent care clinic in New York City — will only cost you $60. Compare that with the average cost of a trip to the ER, which can be upwards of $1,300, according to the Health Cost Institute.

This affordability ensures anyone who needs to be seen by a physician (for a wide range of non-life threatening ailments) can do so, no matter their financial situation.

What’s more? A visit with an online doctor is also covered by most major insurance plans such as Aetna, Cigna, Medicare, Medicaid and more.

4. It Provides Care For a Range of Conditions

You’re probably wondering what conditions an online doctor can see you for. The answer will depend on what service you choose. The board-certified online doctors at Statcare see patients virtually for a wide range of non-life threatening conditions, including:

  • Flu
  • Common cold
  • Mental health issues
  • Bug bites
  • Minor skin rashes
  • Minor cuts/burns

They can also provide guidance on obtaining a COVID-19 test in NYC. The doctor will assess your symptoms and any recent exposure you may have had to the virus to determine whether or not you should take a test.

5. It’s a Great Way to Refill Prescriptions

If you’re an individual who is being treated for a chronic condition (such as chronic back pain, recent hip replacement, chronic allergies, etc.) then telehealth is the most convenient way to get your prescriptions refilled.

You don’t need to risk exposing yourself to other sick patients and waste time visiting a facility just to get the medication you need. An online doctor can see you for chronic conditions and send your prescriptions to your local pharmacy.

Schedule a Telehealth Visit in NYC Today

As you can see, telehealth offers many benefits when it comes to providing quick, convenient, and affordable care for anyone who needs it. If you’re looking for telehealth in NYC, Statcare Urgent & Walk-In Medical should be your first choice.

While most urgent care clinics in the area are just beginning to offer telehealth (mainly in response to COVID-19), Statcare has offered virtual doctor televisits to NYC patients for many years. Thousands of patients have been seen by Statcare’s board-certified online doctors and have received fast and convenient care from the comfort of their own homes.

Statcare puts patients first by ensuring each televisit is carried out using federally-certified software (that is HIPAA Compliant) on a secure network to protect patient confidentiality. What’s more? Statcare allows you to view your medical history on-demand using an intuitive mobile app.

If you’re dealing with a non-life threatening condition, but can’t make it into an urgent care clinic or ER, then schedule a telehealth visit with one of Statcare’s board-certified online doctors today!