Category Archives: Telehealth & Telemedicine

How Good Is a Virtual Doctor?

8/27/2015

The increased usage of internet-enabled mobile devices is changing the way that we communicate. One of the most cutting edge and dynamic niches within mobile communications is health care. Today individuals don’t need to sit for hours in a medical waiting room or wait days for an appointment with their family doctor. Now individuals can simply “tap” themselves into a virtual doctor’s office.

A Preferred Way for Consultations

In May 2014, MDLive conducted a study that revealed how welcomed virtual doctors are.

• 82% of individuals aged 18 to 34 would prefer consulting with a doctor through their mobile device than attend an appointment
• 27% of patients would be willing to give up shopping for one month, skip their next vacation and even refrain from bathing for a week if it meant being able to speak to a health care professional through their phone

Virtual doctors and health care consultations are becoming the ideal solution for our overburdened health care system. But how good are these virtual doctors? Is this the style of treatment that’s right for you and your symptoms?

Not For All Symptoms and Treatments

Virtual doctors do come with a set of limitations. These e-visits are ideal for handling a number of common and non-emergency situations, such as:

• Colds
• Flues
• Stomach pains
• Allergies and rashes
• Sports injuries

What virtual doctors are not helpful for are potentially life-threatening issues, including:

• Breathing problems
• Chest pains
• Uncontrolled bleeding
• Broken bones
• Seizures

Given their inability to perform a physical examination, they are also not able to conduct annual check-ups and shouldn’t be used to manage chronic illness.

Can Virtual Doctors Prescribe Medications?

At this time, federal law prohibits virtual doctors from prescribing any controlled substances such as stimulants and opioid painkillers. Other companies won’t prescribe “lifestyle” drugs such as Viagra or other drugs like anti-depressants.

What a virtual doctor can prescribe includes:

• Antibiotics
• Antihistamines
• Anti-inflammatory drugs
• Topical medications

Is a Virtual Doctor Right for Me?

Being unable to perform a physical examination and not having a patient’s medical history do raise some important questions concerning the validity of an e-visit. Many professionals are concerned that virtual doctors may miss more serious underlying conditions by not being able to see a patient in person. Because of this, a virtual doctor may be best for those of already good to excellent health, have no chronic issues, and whose symptoms indicate a mild illness or irritation.

Prostate Cancer Symptoms

5/26/2015

Prostate cancer is the most common type of cancer that American men suffer from today. With an estimated one in seven men expected to be diagnosed with prostate cancer during his lifetime, it is important that men of all ages familiarize themselves with the symptoms so that it can be detected and treated as early as possible.

The Early Symptoms of Prostate Cancer
The early signs of prostate cancer can be difficult to detect, and are often attributed to other lifestyle changes or habits. If a patient is suffering from any of the below issues, they may be suffering from early stages of prostate cancer:

  1. A Change in Your Bladder Habits and Urination

This includes needing to urinate more frequently (often at night) and more urgently. Having difficulty in starting or stopping your flow of urine, or a complete inability to urinate, can also be a symptom. A burning sensation or pain while urinating should also be checked by a medical professional.

  1. Blood in Urine or Semen

Though often due to a physical injury and other medical issues, any time there is blood in one’s urine or semen indicates a potential serious internal health issue.

  1. Painful Ejaculation

Pain when ejaculating is not normal and requires medical attention.

Later Signs and Symptoms

Men suffering from prostate cancer in the later stages may experience:

  • Unexplained weight loss
  • Fatigue and loss of energy
  • Weakness or numb sensations in the legs or feet
  • Loss of bladder and/or bowel control
  • Low red blood cell count
  • Pain in their bones (particularly one’s hips, thighs, back or neck)

When to Seek Medical Treatment

Patients should make an appointment with his or her doctor as soon as they have any signs or symptoms that may be a cause for concern. Though prostate cancer is the second leading cause of cancer death in men, the majority of men suffering from prostate cancer will not die from this disease. When treated early, the majority of American men experience positive outcomes to treatment.

Your physician will likely recommend tests after:

  • Symptoms of prostate cancer are present
  • Your doctor has spoken to you about your health and performed a complete physical exam
  • A test suggests that there may be a problem with a man’s prostate

Once the initial exam and testing has been completed, your doctor will likely perform other tests to determine how far the cancer has progressed (this is called “staging”) and then develop a treatment plan for you.

Better Technology Means Better Diagnoses For Radiology Patients

2/4/2015

As the tools and technologies of healthcare continue to improve and evolve, both patients and clinicians will continue to reap the rewards of this progress. This recent Forbes article talks about healthcare and diagnostic devices, in the area of radiology in particular, that are becoming “leaner, meaner and even cheaper” – and about the ways in which all of us benefit from this evolution.  

In the past, the technology of traditional radiology was relatively bulky, expensive and in many cases far removed from patients (both literally and metaphorically). Today’s environment is one in which patients are reaping the benefits of new technologies that promise information and diagnoses that are more precise, effective and accessible.

 What does this trend mean for radiology? Of course, we applaud any and all strides that allow healthcare providers to diagnose more efficiently and effectively, and patients to take more charge of their own healthcare. From the perspective of our patients, we know that an informed and able patient is an empowered patient. The better the technology, the better the diagnoses – and that’s a “win-win” for all of us. As the technology continues to get better each year, more and more patients are taking matters into their own hands, taking advantage of better tools and opting for more readily accessible second opinions.

A new age of “plug-and-play” radiology. In radiology – as with any medical specialty or subspecialty – we look for innovations that benefit patients, improve the accuracy of diagnoses and positively impact the overall efficiency of the process. As the Forbes piece points out, “The ultrasound that used to be as bulky and heavy as a refrigerator is now the size of a handheld ‘phablet’ and yet it does the same job it did before.”

At the most recent Radiological Society of North America Annual Meeting (RSNA 2014), there was a great deal of discussion focused on the use of smaller equipment and the role this technology plays in smarter and safer diagnoses – again, all to the great benefit of the patient. “As simple as plugging an iPod into a speaker,” says Forbes.

Clinicians, and in some cases patients, can now easily upload data – such as medical imaging files or pictures – from any device, from their home, office or even the car. Patients have greater visibility into the process, and their healthcare providers are able to more easily view files on any device and, in turn, diagnose and offer their expertise from anywhere, any time. From reducing errors in diagnosis to increasing the speed of communication, we feel strongly that better technology leads to better patient outcomes all around.

What’s ahead for radiology patients? “These latest radiology innovations help improve efficiency, accuracy and workflow, thereby enhancing the lives of millions of patients,” says Forbes. We certainly agree that the future of technology in radiology can and will lead to shortened treatment times and better diagnostic capabilities all around.

 At SecondOpinions.com, we believe that more information and greater access empower patients and, in turn, can lead to more precise and efficient diagnoses and, ultimately, more successful patient outcomes. We invite you to contact us for your second opinion. 

Second Opinions Prevent Unnecessary Surgeries

1/14/2014

Recently a patient, Ella, came to us because she was told that she needed spine surgery and was concerned about subjecting herself to such a difficult surgery. Ella had been in a car accident and suffered from severe pain in her spine after the accident. Her job required her to sit at a computer for many hours a day and this was becoming a problem because it was very painful.

Ella went to see a spine surgeon who recommended she get an MRI to determine the cause of the pain. When she returned to the spine surgeon with the results of the MRI, she was told that surgery was indicated to fix her spine problem and that the surgery could potentially leave her with some mobility problems. Ella knew that she was not about to undergo surgery with the risk of having additional problems. She decided to seek another opinion.

Ella did not know of any other spine surgeons and felt uncomfortable telling her surgeon she wanted a second opinion so she elected to go on the internet to research other physicians who could assist with a second opinion. She came across secondopinions.com and she read all about our services. Board certified physicians, easy upload of the MRI DVD to a HIPPA secure website and second opinion report received within hours of submission at very affordable prices.

Because Ella had a spine problem, a specialized neuroradiologist read her MRI and she also consulted with an in-network spine surgeon. Both physicians concurred that Ella did not need surgery; all she needed was a physical therapy plan and exercise. The SecondOpinions.com doctors referred Ella to a physical therapist who was able to help her and she has responded very well. No more pain, no more problems sitting at her desk, and the best part, No surgery!

It is important to have trust and faith in your doctor, but it is also important to be open minded and educate yourself about the potential healthcare options that may be available to you. In Ella’s case, she was fearful of having surgery, especially a surgery that could potentially leave her with disabilities. Ella realized the importance of educating herself and learning more about her condition so that she could make the best decision regarding her treatment.
Always get a second opinion. In certain situations, get a third opinion if necessary. An educated consumer is one who has the greatest ability to make the most objective decision. Ella sure did.

Second opinions save lives, decrease medical errors, and prevents unnecessary surgeries and procedures. Don’t think twice before you get your second opinion. It could be a matter of life or death.