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PATIENT EMPOWERMENT NETWORK
For example, when we were able to have office visits back in the day -- that was only several weeks ago -- the doctor was asking questions, they listened to your lungs, your heart, even indicators such as your speech pattern or if you look your doctor in the eye. They were collecting information constantly during that office visit. So, let's say, you're a patient with diabetes. You should make sure you have your blood sugar readings handy. Let's say you've been following your blood pressure, make sure you have your blood pressure readings handy. For me, as a dermatologist, it's so important that we have good images of whatever it is on your skin that you need looked at. So it's really thinking through what information your provider needs, and sometimes a doctor will help you. In our case, in advance of a telehealth interaction, we send patients information about how to take good quality pictures of their skin condition. So we're learning, too. Also, make sure you have your questions ready in advance, which is always good advice, both for an in-person or virtual visit, so that you get all your questions answered. Make sure you have all the information about your condition that you can gather and make sure you have your questions prepared. In relation to lab tests that a patient may need to get, how does that work in the telemedicine context? Well, that's a wonderful question. Notwithstanding home pregnancy tests and the like, there are a number of companies making great strides towards taking a drop or two of blood and having a test done in the home, so we can look forward to that in the future.
Honora Miller:
Dr. Kvedar:
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