3 minute read
Virtual Visit
Avoiding Doctor Visit Anxiety
One medical kit offers the The TytoHome portable medical exam kit is approved by the FDA. option of a virtual visit BY » Martin Rose PHOTOGRAPHY PROVIDED BY » Martin Rose
I’m not a fan of doctor medical exam kit. Coupled examination of the eyes, for provider development, office waiting rooms. I with a smartphone app, ears, nose, throat, pulse, recently guided us through hear coughs, see sick TytoHome allows doctors lungs and heart. Novant a demonstration exam. faces and visualize germs swirling freely. That apprehension is to perform a diagnostic exam remotely. Think of it as “house calls” for 2020. Health is affiliated with Tyto to provide virtual visits in North Carolina. Benefits of virtual visits double now because of TytoHome is FDAAram Alexanian, MD, a The benefits quickly became COVID-19. approved and allows a physician at Novant Health clear … not driving to a
So, I was thrilled to read visual exam of the skin, Primary Care Gilead Road in physical location, waiting for about TytoHome’s portable temperature check and Huntersville and executive exam start in the comfort
A doctor talks the patient through the diagnostic phase of the TytoHome portable medical exam kit.
of home, not missing work time, etc. What a benefit this would have been when we had young children with frequent fever, runny nose and sore throats.
The visit began like any video call, with Dr. Alexanian on my screen and me on his. He reviewed my record and discussed my health concerns. We then transitioned to the diagnostics phase where he guided me through exams of suspicious skin spots, listening to my heart and lungs, and examining
“It’s a privilege being invited into their home and seeing pictures of their children or grandchildren. I now understand that patient more as a person,” Dr. Alexanian says.
my ears and throat.
My only struggle was positioning the camera to see inside the ear. Dr. Alexanian demonstrated the correct technique onscreen and it worked easily. Labs or x-rays can be scheduled the same day if needed. The verdict
The virtual visit was a great experience. I feared an ear problem, but Dr. Alexanian did not see anything of concern. Visit results are recorded in my online medical record. When it was over, I strolled barefoot to the kitchen for another cup of coffee.
Dr. Alexanian describes the in-home virtual visits as humbling, especially with patients he has known for some time. “It’s a privilege being invited into their home and seeing pictures of their children or grandchildren. I now understand that patient more as a person,” Dr. Alexanian says.
Prior to COVID-19, Novant Health recorded 2,000 total virtual visits (telephone, email, video and Tyto). In the last six months they have performed 500,000 virtual visits.
What does the future hold? That partly depends on how Medicare and private insurance treat virtual visits in the future. Since COVID-19 virtual visits are covered the same as in-person visits.
The kit retails for $299 and is available through Novant Health and Best Buy. At time of publication, Best Buy had it discounted to $249.
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