When Telehealth Is the Right Call

Telehealth (sometimes used interchangeably with telemedicine) uses technology, such as webcams, tablets, and smartphones, to provide patients with medical services in a secure online environment, not at an in-person office visit.

At Heart Leg & Vascular Center, our expert team of vascular specialists is proud to provide telehealth services to our patients in the Bakersfield, California, area. As many people aren’t aware of the capabilities of telehealth, the team wants to share the information about when telehealth is the right call.

A brief history of telehealth

Technology-assisted health care isn’t a recent invention. As early as 1879, an article in the British journal Lancet discussed using telephones to reduce unnecessary office visits. And in 1925, Science and Invention magazine proposed a (then-science-fiction-y) device that allowed the video examination of a patient over distance.

Science fiction, though, soon became a reality. In 1940s Pennsylvania, radiology images were sent 24 miles between two towns over a telephone line — an effective medical records transfer. In the 1950s, a Canadian doctor built upon this technology, developing a teleradiology system used around the Montreal area.

The first video communication used for medical purposes came in 1959 when doctors at the University of Nebraska developed a two-way television setup to send information to and from medical students across the campus. In 1964, they took it a step further, joining a state hospital to perform video consultations.

Today, videoconferencing technology is everywhere, from the Zoom meetings we all did during the COVID-19 lockdown to FaceTime and Skype to the devices paramedics use to transmit information about a patient to the receiving hospital.

Perhaps the most unique medical application to date has been the space program. NASA had to develop technology that would allow ground-based doctors to monitor astronauts while they were in space.

Telehealth benefits

Some examinations and procedures have to be done in person, but telehealth offers several advantages over traditional, in-office appointments:

• You can connect with your doctor from the comfort of your own home
• There’s no waiting in traffic
• There’s no need to hang around a waiting room
• You won’t be exposed to anyone else who’s ill
• You don’t have to take time off of work or school
• You don’t need to worry about childcare

The bottom line? You save time, money, and a lot of unnecessary hassle.

When telehealth is the right call

There are many things your Heart Vascular & Leg Center doctor can do remotely:

• Use symptoms and medical history to diagnose vascular, leg, or heart issues
• View lesions or sores via the video link
• Develop customized treatment plans
• Review the results of vascular tests with you
• Monitor your treatment progress
• Answer any of your questions or concerns

And if we determine you need additional testing or care, we can use the appointment to set up a referral with a specialist in the area.

The format of every telehealth consultation depends both on the patient’s personal health history and their goals. It’s best to make up a list of questions you want to ask the doctor during your telehealth visit, so you get all the answers you need. Most consultations range between 45-60 minutes.

If you need to see a Heart Vascular & Leg Center vascular specialist but don’t want the time and hassle involved with an in-office appointment, we encourage you to make a telehealth appointment. Give our office a call at 661-443-5524 to set one up, or book online today.