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In the past, getting sick meant having to call your provider, make an appointment and drive all the way to the office to get care. Now, with the advancement of technology, you can get care wherever you are with a telehealth appointment.

A telehealth appointment is a video visit that connects you with a health care provider on a webcam via your smartphone, tablet or computer. As long as you have internet access and a device with a camera, you can set up a care visit whenever you need one.

Benefits of Telehealth Visits

When the COVID-19 pandemic drove people inside for safety reasons, the use of telehealth visits rose from 840,000 in 2019 to 52.7 million in 2020 among people with Medicare, according to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.

When people realized how convenient telehealth could be, they continued using it even after medical offices reopened. Some benefits of telehealth include:

  • After-hours care If your provider’s office is closed and you don’t need to visit an urgent care clinic, you can still receive care through video visits.
  • Health care wherever you are ­— Telehealth visits ensure you can see your health care provider even if you’re traveling or quarantining.
  • Lower cost — At BMH Care Anywhere, visits only cost $67.
  • Saves you time — Care appointments are around 10 minutes each from the comfort of wherever you are, saving you drive and wait time.

Read More: Freak Out or Chill Out: Everyday Scrapes and Bruises

When to Make a Telehealth Appointment

“At Beaufort Memorial, we’ve expanded telehealth beyond urgent care visits and now also schedule appointments with primary care providers and specialists,” says Allison Vigil, NP, who regularly provides urgent care video visits through BMH Care Anywhere. “Virtual visits may not be the best option for cases where you need imaging and bloodwork or when your provider needs to listen to your heart or lungs, but you can have a telehealth visit for things like chronic disease management, follow-up care and medication checks and refills.”

Telehealth is still a great option for urgent medical needs associated with common conditions, such as:

  • Allergies
  • Common colds, coughs, the flu and other respiratory infections
  • Ear infections
  • Fever
  • Headaches and migraines
  • Pink eye
  • Sinus infections
  • Sore throat
  • Stomach issues, such as nausea and vomiting
  • Urinary tract infections

Read More: Let Telehealth Help You Through Summer

Create an account or download the BMH Care Anywhere app today so it’s ready the next time you need it.