One of the biggest changes to a doctor’s visit is the growing use of telemedicine. Telemedicine has become a much more common and has steadily grown as a preferred way for patients to consult their physicians. According to the CDC, “during the first quarter of 2020, the number of telehealth visits in-
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H E A L T H C A R E IN CENTRAL ARIZONA Improving Quality of Life Through Medical Innovation. -Kristina Abbey
creased by 50%, compared with the same period in 2019, with a 154% increase in visits noted in surveillance week 13 in 2020, compared with the same period in 2019.” While the pandemic clearly impacted those numbers, telemedicine was already well on its way to becoming part of standard medical care.
Photos courtesy of Yavapai Regional Medical Center
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trip to the doctor’s office has changed quite a bit in the past several years. You are more likely to see your doctor use a laptop or iPAD to type medical notes directly into your digital file than handwrite notes for paper records. The paper prescription pad has become virtually obsolete as prescriptions are instead transmitted wirelessly to the office printer or sent directly to the pharmacy of your choice.
