14 Highroads Living - Volume 10 • Issue 1
HighroadsLiving.com
NOW OFFERING TELEHEALTH APPOINTMENTS We offer primary care for families and children, along with dental, pharmacies, rehabilitation, diabetes education & behavioral health. Accepting most insurances including MEDICARE & MEDICAID.
RABUN
RABUN NORTH
896 Highway 441 S Clayton, GA. 30525
HABERSHAM 396 Historic Hwy Demorest, GA 30535
773 North Main Street Clayton, GA. 30525
HALL
520 Jesse Jewell Pkwy SE Gainesville, GA 30501
WHITE
17 White St Cleveland, GA 20528
706.521.3113 For other locations and information visit:
medlinkga.org
I
f there is a silver lining to the challenges the past year created for families, it may be the growth, availability and affordability of virtual care for medical and mental health needs. The ability to see a doctor from home, with little notice, offers a level of flexibility in accessing health care that was historically quite rare. Virtual care, or telemedicine, can span a wide range of services to address a family’s health needs without going to a doctor’s office and provides easy access to experts and specialists via phone and video. Plus, telemedicine services are covered by most insurance providers. “Telemedicine is a safe and practical way to access health care for the entire family,” said Dr. Desreen N. Dudley, a clinical psychologist and behavioral health quality consultant for Teladoc. “For example, Teladoc has thousands of care providers across all 50 states that let members quickly connect with a doctor or specialist who can provide peace of mind any hour of the day or night.” From care for specific illnesses to managing ongoing concerns, learn how accessing telemedicine might be a good fit for your family’s health care needs.
EVERYDAY ILLNESSES In the past, if your doctor’s office couldn’t get you in to help treat conditions like allergies, sinus infections or other common illnesses, urgent care was one of your few remaining options. Now, virtual care can be increasingly relied upon to conveniently address non-emergency needs and everyday illnesses in place of urgent care. SPECIALTY CARE Even with a referral, it can take weeks or months to get an appointment with some specialists. One example is dermatology. Instead of waiting months to be seen by a dermatologist, with a virtual provider, you can seek and receive treatment a matter of hours. MENTAL HEALTH As a result of the pandemic and related social implications, many organizations are reporting substantial upticks in requests for mental health support and anticipate telemedicine will outlive the pandemic. In fact, phone and video visits for mental health have been shown to be as effective as in-person treatment, according to the Telemental Health Institute.
