My allergies have been quite bad this year, and I've been fighting an on-again-off-again sinus infection due to said allergies for the last couple of months. On Thursday of this week, it felt like I was getting a sore throat when I swallowed or ate, but by Friday night I realized it was actually ear pain. All day yesterday I had the pain on and off, so I hoped that it was just due to sinus pressure. Having had ear infections my entire life though, it was apparent by last night that I have an ear infection, most likely due to all the sinus issues I've been dealing with. I had been delaying the inevitable...I needed a round of antibiotics.
We have several urgent care offices in town, but they aren't appointment based so going is a crap shoot of how quickly you will be seen. The thought of spending my Sunday at the urgent care office, and making myself presentable enough to do so, was unappealing. While I know a handful of people who have mentioned or even used online healthcare before, I had not ever done so. Not quite sure how it all worked, I was hesitant to try it. This morning though, when I woke up with the ear pain again (I had hoped it would magically disappear after drugging myself to sleep last night), I spent a little time researching it online. There are a lot of websites for online healthcare, at varying costs. Although I had searched using my insurance company last night and didn't find anything, I actually happened upon their site this morning. Knowing that it was linked to my insurance company I felt a bit more comfortable trying it out as opposed to some random health site. So I tried it!
It took just a few minutes to sign up and then there was a quick health and insurance/pharmacy questionnaire. In about a minute it accepted my insurance, I paid the $20 copay (which is my regular visit copay) with my credit card, and I was in a virtual waiting room with two patients ahead of me. The nice thing about the wait was that I waited in my bed reading as opposed to in the urgent care waiting room with other sick people. I'm not sure how long I waited, since I had occupied myself with a book, but maybe 10 minutes later the iPad dinged and told me it was my turn. Within a few seconds I was video chatting with a nice doctor about my ear pain. An additional plus for using this service linked to my insurance is that she had my medical information beyond the health questionnaire. She could see that I had been battling a sinus infection so it was most likely caused by that. The doctor had me touch my ear in a couple of places and tell her if/where it hurt. Then she asked to see my throat, which made me laugh. Trying to hold the iPad up to my mouth and make sure the camera was looking in the right spot was a bit challenging. We chatted for about 5 minutes, she prescribed me a Z Pack and sent it right to the pharmacy which I will pick up in about an hour.
The only downside, you have to watch yourself on camera the whole time. Certain angles on those devices are so unflattering. The thought of owning a selfie stick is ridiculous to me, but the idea crossed my mind a few times during the visit.
I had no idea what to expect from an online visit, which made me uncertain about trying it. After today's experience, and the fact that it's linked to my insurance, I would definitely use it again. It sure beats waiting in line at the actual office when you're feeling sick. Other than a quick trip to the pharmacy, I didn't have to leave my bed. I'm a fan of anything I can do from the comfort of my bed.
currently
3 hours ago
This sounds like a winner! I hate that you're sick, but how nice you could do all this from the comfort of your own home - your bed, at that! Being linked to your insurance is an added bonus.
ReplyDeleteWe don't even have urgent care facilities where I live, so I doubt I could find anything like this. Besides, my internet is so slow, I'm not sure I could do a decent "face to face".
I hope the meds kick in quickly and you're feeling much better soon!
Thank you. Yes, I will be fine. I'll have three doses before leaving for work tomorrow, so will hopefully be on the mend by then.
DeleteIt was very cool and convenient. I will say that my internet service isn't particularly fast. If you are still using dial-up, then that might be an issue, but if you have more than that you probably can access one of the many sites. There are several with apps for the phone or tablet as well. It would certainly be more convenient than driving out of town for it.
Aww pet, I hope you are feeling a bit better. Did you get some pain killers too. I know when I get the sinus thing it's like someone is squeezing my skull. And it can be kinda odd too sometimes. I can be working at the desk or out walking when I hear a pop and I put my hand to my nose and a river of clear liquid is on my hands. For I'd not noticed that the pressure was building up until I feel the relief of it opening. So when I think on what you must be going through with a serious affliction.
ReplyDeleteOn the internet doctor. I think I'd be careful using them too much. But I'm curious why they have the same price for both when the Net is pretty costless to the otherside. The doc could be sitting up in their bed too, for all you know.
Oddly, I think men will find this service more useful than women. And as I mentioned above, to the detriment of health. You women go for a medical check far more often than men, so things get picked up on earlier when they can be fixed.
We're back in Winter Time. I H8 the change back.
No, no pain killers. I've been sucking down the ibuprofen like it's water. Not feeling that much better after talking all day. :( But thank you.
DeleteI agree, I think people who don't go to the doctor for every little thing (like me) will utilize this far more than going in, just because of the efficiency of it. It irritates me to no end to go in for an easy diagnose (pink eye, UTI, ear infection, sore throat, etc) just to get that prescription that you knew you needed before you even went in. I get that there is always the possibility that it is something else, but doctors will treat it as usual until you go back and say "that didn't work", so saving time by not having to go in is HUGE! But I do agree, it's not something that you want to use for anything beyond those basics. I think that's the point though - to weed out those really basic illnesses so the urgent care/emergency can take care of more serious issues.
As for the payment, $20 is the copay regardless of where I go, as long as it's under my coverage. The cost of the "visit" is probably cheaper , but my portion is $20 and the insurance company will just pay less. The great benefit of FOR PROFIT health care! :)
I'm sorry about the time change for you, but I am looking greatly forward to ours next weekend. It is SO DARK when I leave for work right now, it's makes me more crabby than usual in the morning. :) The lighter mornings will help!
Yeah but why the hell have a doctor do it at all. Why not have prescribing nurse, or for that matter a pharmacist.
DeleteAnd stop being a fecking martyr, Ibuprifen, while useful for certain things is worse than useless for real agony. Go get some NSAI like a Diclofenac or stronger.
I don't even know what Diclofenac is!?!? Isn't Ibuprofen an NSAI? I'd love a Vicodin or hydrocodone...that would help a lot!
DeleteOh, ya, we see PAs or Prescribing Nurses at the urgent care all the time. Our pharmacists aren't able to prescribe meds, unless over the counter.
Voltarol. But you must have something. The antibiotics will only hit the infection not the cause.
DeleteJessy got over the fireworks pretty good this year. Scared, but not insane, is probably the best way to put it.
Got some prednisone today and I think it's finally working! I have a feeling that what it all turned out to be is canker sores in my throat. This exact sequence of events happened about 6 years ago - sinus infection + stress (work has been impossible this year) = sore throat that was diagnosed as an infection and treated as such until the antibiotics did nothing and I went back and they looked and said, "Oh, ya, those spots on your throat aren't infection!" I can't even tell you the pain those suckers cause...stress related. They say it's a form of shingles.
DeleteAnyhow, what are the fireworks for? Halloween? I know you guys don't really do Halloween, but why would they light fireworks?
I'm glad she was better. They literally lose their mind sometimes with them. Not sure what to do about .
Sorry you're not feeling well--but hooray for this system! My wellness team at school has been encouraging us to use this option instead of the emergency room for non-emergencies (like yours). I have yet to need it but reading your experience makes me more confident should the need arise.
ReplyDeleteGet well soon!
I can see why they encourage you! It's a great idea, and like you said, for those non-emergencies it couldn't be easier. I would recommend it for anything you "know" the diagnosis to.
DeleteThat sounds like a good experience. I could have used that for my urgent care spider bite visit. I think there are lots of urgent issues that could be handled by online access. Get well, sinus infections are awful.
ReplyDeleteYes! I agree. It makes a lot of sense. I will definitely use again!
DeleteI hope the spider bite wasn't too painful! I got one of those once and the lump it caused made me quite nervous.
that sounds great.. not the you being sick part of course.. the online doctor part. Hope you are felling better
ReplyDeleteThank you! I'm sure I will be soon...just not quite yet. :)
Deleteargh saw the typo just as i hit post.. and then it was too late.. feeling not felling.
ReplyDeleteWhy do we always catch those AFTER posting. :)
DeleteWe gave this available with my wife's insurance through her employer, which we both use. I have not used the online doc but she has once and had a favorable experience as you did. For minor illnesses, it appears to be a win for doctor, patient and the healthcare system as a whole.
ReplyDelete