Nowadays, most people are managing almost every aspect of their lives while at home. Working, schooling, and grocery shopping are now being done without having to get out. The surge in telemedicine appointments reveals a tremendous amount of medical care is also being dispensed to patients virtually. Telehealth is now much more widely used as practices make virtual visits available to patients, and doctors are finding them to be a more efficient and intimate way to see patients.
Despite the melding of the physical and mental boundaries at home, now more than ever, we need to maintain good health to have the best possible defenses against the coronavirus. Barring any tests or procedures that require in-person visits, and provided that a patient is not having a high-risk pregnancy, most check-ups can be conducted virtually, even in the field of obstetrics and gynecology (OB/GYN). Generally, doctors aim to provide a hybrid, wherein the interest of safety, a patient gets a combination of in-person and virtual appointments. An in-person visit will be recommended on the occasion when a physical examination, test, or procedure is required.
Here’s what an OB/GYN can offer virtually during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Prenatal and Postpartum Care
Due to the pandemic, only initial prenatal visits are conducted in-person, after which the doctor will establish whether the pregnancy is high-risk or low-risk. For low-risk pregnancies, the in-person visits have been reduced to the 28th, 36th, and 39th-week visits, and the rest may be conducted virtually.
For women with high-risk pregnancies, there will still be closer monitoring of the pregnancy, but symptoms, such as dizziness, headaches, and light sensitivity, may be discussed via video conferencing. For pregnant women with gestational diabetes, follow-up care, such as diet, lifestyle, and insulin checks, may also be done over video chat.
Women who are experiencing postpartum depression need not leave their homes to see their doctor. OB/GYNs can check in with patients through remote video appointments to discuss, diagnose, and treat such issues.
Annual Well-Woman Exams and Follow-Up
Many OB/GYN practices now offer annual well-woman checks virtually and are able to provide follow-up care similarly. If you have any questions about your breasts, birth control, urinary tract infections (UTI), and sexually transmitted diseases (STDs), or have concerns about your reproductive health, your OB/GYN can give advice, recommendations, and prescribe treatments during a telemedicine visit.
A woman’s overall health and wellness is largely influenced by her reproductive system. Therefore, take advantage of telemedicine visits to touch base with your doctor and become more proactive with your health. A telemedicine visit gives you ample time to talk things through with your doctor, so don’t wait until the pandemic is over to set up an appointment with an OB/GYN.
Telemedicine Visit With an OB/GYN in North Miami, FL
At Levin’s Women’s Health & Wellness Center, we offer telemedicine appointments to our existing patients following their first in-person visit. For new patients, call our clinic at (305) 981-0231 or request an appointment today. We look forward to serving you in our North Miami OB/GYN clinic or virtually, whichever you prefer.