Your health, your way: Making the most of your virtual care options

Many of us have busy lives, with work, family commitments and social engagements filling up our calendars. Taking care of ourselves can easily slip to the bottom of the priority list, but keeping on top of your healthcare needs is vital for lifelong wellness. So, what’s the solution?

If you struggle to find time to head to the doctor’s office or are under the weather and don’t want to make the trip, virtual care (also known as telehealth) offers a convenient way to access care that is built around you.

The rising popularity of telehealth and virtual care

In recent years, virtual care has been changing the health landscape in many ways by making care more accessible than ever. You may have the best doctor in the world, but if it’s after hours and your clinic is closed, or it's flu season and you call in the middle of the day hoping to get in, without virtual care, it may be the next day or even longer before you’re able to see someone.

The COVID-19 pandemic changed how people viewed virtual care. If we look back at virtual care use in the pre-pandemic days, the change is astounding. In an average month at Baylor Scott & White Health, we would see less than 100 virtual visits per month. Now, we're averaging easily over 40,000 visits a month.

Now with 24/7 virtual healthcare options from Baylor Scott & White Health, you can speak to a provider from your living room—you don't have to leave work or change your plans. Here’s what you need to know about your virtual care options.

Is virtual care right for me?

Virtual care is a new option for many people, so there can be some confusion if you don’t know how or when to use it versus traditional, in-person care.

In general, virtual care is best used for follow-up visits with an established physician or minor illnesses and injuries like cold or flu symptoms, headaches, digestive issues and urinary tract infections. If your symptoms would require a physical evaluation, tests or imaging, virtual care may not be appropriate.

Here’s a breakdown of your options for getting care online.

Video visit

Just like scheduling a traditional office visit, you choose which doctor or provider you wish to see via video visit, whether it’s your established doctor, a new doctor or an on-call 24/7 provider at Baylor Scott & White Health.

Next time you’re in person with your provider, ask them if you’re eligible for a video visit. Virtual care is a convenient option for a follow up appointment. When a treatment plan has already been created and you're checking in to see how the plan is going and if your prescriptions are working or not, you can often have these conversations conveniently via video.

eVisit

If you’re sick and need care quickly, an eVisit gives you access to an on-call provider to help with your diagnosis and treatment plan.

Help Me Decide

We recently launched an initiative called Help Me Decide within the MyBSWHealth app . You can use this tool or you can choose to talk to a live person, and they will help you decide what care options are best for you.

Symptom Checker

There’s also an online Symptom Checker where you can answer a few simple questions and receive a recommendation about the care option best suited to your needs, including virtual care.

Messaging Your Provider

Using MyBSWHealth, the Messaging Your Provider tool allows you to send private, secure messages to your provider, who will typically respond within two business days. This option is best used to get your provider’s input on non-urgent questions.

How to prepare for your video visit appointment

Just like a traditional doctor’s appointment, it’s important to come prepared and be proactive in order to get the most out of your virtual video care visit. Here are a few steps that can make your visit more effective and efficient:

• Make sure you complete an eCheck-in within the app before your visit and log in 15 minutes before your appointment.
• Have your ID and insurance card close by.
• Check that your device is charged, you’re connected to WiFi, and your headphones and microphone are both working before your visit begins.

If you’re curious about virtual care and want to know more about your options, log in to your MyBSWHealth patient portal or speak to your primary care doctor at your next appointment.