If you have ever had an ear infection you know just how painful they can be and when left untreated can lead to serious complications and even hearing loss. However, getting an immediate appointment with your doctor may be a challenge. With a video chat doctor appointment, it’s not only possible to get an appointment within minutes at any time from any place, but it will likely cost you less than a doctor’s office visit. And if it is a child who has an ear infection trying to take them to a crowded doctor’s office filled with sick children may not really be an easy task or comfortable for your child, not to mention all those germs floating around.
Getting a video chat doctor appointment is a quick and easy process that enables you to have a one-on-one, face-to-face conversation on your mobile device or computer with a licensed U.S. board certified doctor within your state. The process is easy and can be done in minutes just by adding a free app to your mobile device or registering online. Just answer some standard questions regarding you or your family member’s health history and you’ll be set to go. Although insurance isn’t required to use the service if you have insurance be sure to include it as the video chat doctor appointment may be covered in your insurance plan. Getting that ear infection treated and relieving the pain as quickly as possible is what’s best for you or your family, and with video chat consultations the doctor is always in at your convenience.
How A Video Chat Doctor Will Treat an Ear Infection?
Your face-to-face video consultation will begin at your pre-determined time with the doctor asking you some questions about the symptoms you or your child are experiencing. During the question and answer session the doctor will be evaluating all the information you are providing as well as your physical appearance, just as a doctor would do in the office setting. Obviously the doctor cannot physically look into the ear via video chat, but there are physical manipulations he or she may ask you to perform such as tugging gently on the ear, especially if it is a child. During the exam you and the doctor will discuss the diagnosis and your treatment plan in detail and answer any questions you may have.
Ear infections often may be treated with over the counter home remedies and pain relievers, but the doctor may order prescription ear drops or antibiotics if deemed medically necessary by the severity of your symptoms. The doctor is not required to order any prescription medications for you or your family member; it is completely at the doctor’s discretion. It should also be noted that telemedicine doctors are not permitted to prescribe narcotic type drugs or controlled substances for pain and that state guidelines vary from state to state even for prescription antibiotics. If antibiotics or a prescription drug should be necessary for your treatment plan the doctor will call in or electronically send your prescription(s) to the pharmacy of your choosing.
As with any doctor appointment whether it be in the office or via video chat it is important to follow the doctor’s instructions carefully and completely. If your condition should get worse you should always seek medical attention immediately from an urgent care center or local hospital emergency room.
What Information You Will Need to Have Ready for The Doctor
To prepare for your video chat doctor appointment it is important to have pen and paper handy so you can make notes of the doctor’s instructions, although most telemedicine doctors will email them to you. You also should strongly consider making a list of all of your symptoms and exactly when they first occurred. This would include your current temperature, if you have experienced any vomiting, sore throat, which ear or ears, hearing loss, and so on. The doctor will cover these things during your exam, but it is good to write them down so nothing is missed. Don’t forget to include any allergies you may have to medications and any questions you have that you want to ask.
What Kind of Resolution Can I Expect from The Doctor?
You can expect a thorough exam where by the doctor will evaluate you and your symptoms and make a diagnosis. The doctor will discuss your plan of treatment with you and make certain you fully understand the diagnosis and treatment instructions. Ear infections may be quite painful, but typically they are not serious and can easily be treated under the doctor’s guidance.
Should the doctor order prescription ear drops and or antibiotics be certain to completely finish the entire prescription(s) as directed, even if you are feeling better as stopping them may cause your ear infection to return. If you have any questions that you forgot to ask the doctor during your video chat consultation most telemedicine companies allow you up to as many as seven days for follow up questions, but this time frame varies from one company to another.
