Telehealth: Safe & Easy-To-Use Remote Medical Assistance

WRITTEN BY JONATHAN SORREL, MD | SLENT

TIMES ARE CHANGING at a rapid pace. In a matter of weeks, news of a virus affecting people in a land far away has become news of a virus affecting our nation, our state, our community - you. The world as we know it changes by the day. We are adapting to new ways of teaching, learning, working from home, shopping, socializing, and seeking medical care.

Remember back to the days and weeks following Hurricane Katrina? Text messaging was still in its infancy, but it quickly became the sole means of communication as landline and cell phone calls were not an option. In this time of social distancing, healthcare services are evolving with Telehealth as an adaptive means to communicate with your physicians.

Telehealth allows uninterrupted care through easy-to-use, online platforms. Simply log onto the provided website and you are video chatting with your doctor in a matter of minutes. You obtain remote medical assistance, education, intervention, monitoring, and prescriptions from a provider that you already know and trust without having to sit in a waiting room full of people and without unnecessary exposure.

Despite everything else going on in this world, patients continue to need healthcare services. Remote Telehealth provides patients, physicians, and clinic staff with a safe alternative to face-to-face office visits.

As a community, we each do our part to isolate our families as directed in this time of need. The healthcare providers are following strict guidelines and best practices to make sure they are available to meet your medical needs. A phone call to your provider can determine whether your condition necessitates an in-person office visit or can be addressed via Telehealth.

Jonathan Sorrel is a Board Certified Otolaryngologist with SLENT. For more information, call 985-327-5905 or visit southlouisianamd.com.