Tincup
Honored Contributor (10K+ posts)
Member # 5829
posted
I've asked some Lyme literate doctors and other health care professionals if they offer Skype and/or phone consults to their patients.
Some do in-state only, some offer patients they can't fit in to their practice an hour consult to ask questions, some can assist USA patients, and some provide this service nationally and internationally.
My questions are, and I am keeping a list from the docs responses of who does what so patients will have access to that info when I'm done collecting it...
1. As a Lyme patient would this service help you?
2. Would you be more likely to chose a doctor that could provide this service to be used as needed as opposed to one who won't?
I'd just like to provide some feed back to our docs and possibly drag some of them into the 21st century in the process. ~smile~
me
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 45475
posted
Yes, and yes. Big time.
-------------------- Just sharing my experiences, opinions, and what I've read and learned. Not medical advice. Posts: 1431 | From USA | Registered: Mar 2015
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posted
YES! phone or even better Skype.
Posts: 798 | From Cincinnati, OH | Registered: Jul 2016
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MichaelTampa
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 24868
posted
One of my docs does phone consults, or, at least, her Physicians Assistant does. I appreciate it, I am out of town, and come to town every other visit. It's nice for a little update or going over lab results between visits.
This LLMD does energy testing and provides other treatments while in the office, so it is no substitute for being there periodically (in my opinion).
Regarding question 2, while it is a bonus, it is low down on the list of concerns, I don't think it would ever impact my decision of who to choose as a doc.
What is Skype?
Posts: 1927 | From se usa | Registered: Mar 2010
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Keebler
Honored Contributor (25K+ posts)
Member # 12673
posted
- Skype [a brand for a particular vendor] is basically a phone conversation via computer microphone with visual, too. A little camera on the computer / pad / phone lets you see face to face. -
Posts: 48021 | From Tree House | Registered: Jul 2007
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Keebler
Honored Contributor (25K+ posts)
Member # 12673
posted
- One consideration would be knowing for sure you have very secure connections.
Not sure anything with WiFi is ever really guaranteed secure on portable devices - even at home.
At home, land-line web corded connection (which would be a real computer or laptop) likely more secure unless there are particular security features involved. Certainly an issue to clarify.
After any such exchange, it's vital to clear device of "cookies" "history" and the like. Really, that should be done daily, anyway.
But, just recently, Google has added another hidden step that I just stumbled upon. After clearing "history" on Google Chrome and "delete browsing history" on Windows 7 . . .
MapQuest has a history storage that does not get deleted. And this is for anything one has searched on Google, or other sites, regardless of the browser. The three small horizontal lines to the left of the Google Maps search bar, clink on them for the menu.
Scroll down to the bottom for "history" - one has to sign back into email but then the "Apps" present with history that has to then be deleted.
I have no cell phone or pad. Just a regular computer and it still tracks me with this new "App" and other methods of deletion do not touch it. Be sure to sign back out of email after clearing. Too many steps. -
[ 07-19-2016, 05:35 PM: Message edited by: Keebler ]
Posts: 48021 | From Tree House | Registered: Jul 2007
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Tincup
Honored Contributor (10K+ posts)
Member # 5829
posted
Keebler is right. The doctors can get special software to comply with HIPAA regulations, etc.
Your responses are helping a lot. I know several docs now- that I didn't before- who provide the service and some now looking into doing it.
WPinVA
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 33581
posted
Yes and yes!
One of my docs has done phone consults because her office is an hour away and that was hard when I was really ill. The phone consults were a godsend and they were useful but they were also never quite as good as in person appointments.
So I personally think they are most useful when used in conjunction with in person appts. Perhaps every other time. And certainly not for the first appt.
Posts: 1737 | From Virginia | Registered: Aug 2011
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