Prime Medic's Blog
Online Scripts - How Older Patients Can Prepare For Their Appointment
For older patients, booking an appointment with a telehealth service to get their online scripts, specialist referrals, medical certificates or general check-ups can be a little bit intimidating. Whether it is due to the complications of using technology or the entire concept itself, older patients may feel left out when it comes to using a telemedicine service.
To help make this transition a little easier for older patients, here are some helpful tips to consider to make the process feel like foreign:
Does the telehealth provider offer video conferencing?
For senior patients, the concept of talking to a doctor over the phone without seeing their face may feel too different or unfamiliar at first. Many prefer to see the face of who they are talking to in order to make them feel more relaxed and comfortable. Seeing the doctor’s face during the consultation can make it easier to communicate emotion and feel more personal.
Before signing up and booking an appointment with an online doctor with a telemedicine provider, first make sure that they can provide the option to have a video consultation such as Prime Medic. If the provider does, find out what apps they support such as Zoom, Skype or Face Time and make sure you have them downloaded and installed before the time of your appointment.
Does the doctor call you?
With phone and video call consultations, the doctor will typically call the patient within the appointment time frame as with Prime Medic. If it is your first time using a telehealth provider, it’s a good idea to find out exactly who is calling who for peace of mind.
This is because some telehealth providers may send a link to their patients who must click the link and then must join the video conference before their appointment can begin. To ensure there is no chance of miscommunication, confirm if your doctor will be calling you before the appointment.
Do you require a support person with you?
As with a traditional face-to-face appointment with a medical clinic, you may require a support person with you during your appointment such as a friend, a family member or a social worker. You can usually provide this information when booking your appointment and mentioning that a support person will be joining you during the consultation.
However, for peace of mind, always make sure that the telehealth service you are choosing can allow an additional support person to accompany you during your appointment.
Prepare your questions
Before your consultation begins, it’s a great idea to have any questions you may want to ask the doctor written down before the appointment begins. Apart from being organised, it’s also a good idea to keep some paper and a pen with you to write down any notes and to ensure that you have asked all your questions before the appointment finishes.
When searching for a leading telehealth service provider in Australia, turn to Prime Medic. Whether you require online scripts, medical certificates, specialists referrals or more, download our app and skip the crowded medical clinic waiting rooms today!
