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Who is an online doctor?

An online doctor is a doctor who offers telehealth services. Telehealth, or e-health or mobile health, means using digital communication and information technology for accessing healthcare services remotely. Online doctors have the same qualifications/certifications/licensure as local doctors you would see in person at hospitals and medical clinics. The only difference is that a part of their responsibilities includes offering telehealth services via voice and video calls and text messages. 

Online doctors can diagnose and treat medical conditions, prescribe medicines, and suggest lab tests. They also offer a range of other virtual care services, including checking in after in-person visits, monitoring vitals, checking lab reports, and clearing any doubt about your diagnosis and treatment. It is important to note that virtual healthcare and telehealth are different; the former describes how patients and doctors communicate using digital tools, while the latter is only one aspect of virtual care.

What are some benefits of consulting an online doctor?

While telemedicine cannot replace in-person visits to a doctor, it has several advantages, like:

• Lower cost: Seeking medical care can be expensive, even with health insurance. Telemedicine appointments typically cost less than in-person visits and reduce out-of-pocket costs.
• Reduced anxiety: Many people do not like going to the doctor in person. Additionally, conditions like agoraphobia might prevent people from seeking care outside. Telehealth offers a way for them to ask questions and access medical care without leaving home.
• Reduced pathogen exposure: Long waits with other patients in doctors' waiting rooms can contribute to the spread of disease-causing viruses. Telehealth helps patients avoid exposure to germs and viruses while protecting medical professionals' health.
• Benefits patients with chronic conditions: At-home monitoring tools that send readings to medical professionals can indicate new symptoms, deteriorating health, and potential emergencies. This helps people with chronic conditions get prompt interventions, which can even be life-saving.

Which medical conditions do online doctors treat?

While virtual healthcare might not fit all medical conditions, online doctors can diagnose and treat various common health concerns. Some of these are listed below:

• Cold and flu: You can seek online help if you have a common cold or the flu. Its symptoms include fever, blocked or runny nose, headache, fatigue, nausea, body aches, and loss of appetite. An online doctor can prescribe you over-the-counter medicines and suggest any required tests if your symptoms persist or worsen despite taking medications. 
• Allergies: An allergic reaction can manifest in several ways, including a runny nose, skin rashes or irritation, dry or itchy eyes, sore throat, difficulty breathing, etc. Online doctors can help you determine the cause of your allergy and specific triggers, offer you a diagnosis, and work with you to create a long-term treatment plan.
• Digestive issues: You can see an online doctor if you are experiencing diarrhea, constipation, irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), and general bowel and gut discomfort. They can make diagnoses and prescribe medications for most digestive problems. If your condition is more serious, they might ask you to get specific tests done and follow up with them in a few weeks.
• Skin conditions: Skin conditions are ideal for online consultations as most of their symptoms are visible. A doctor can help you with acne, eczema, dandruff, dry and flaky skin, hives, psoriasis, minor cuts, and burns. Unless recommended otherwise, you can also ask your doctor to conduct all follow-up sessions online.
• Mental health concerns: You can consult mental health professionals online. They can conduct psychiatric assessments, diagnose, offer therapy and consultations, and prescribe medicines. Online psychiatrists and psychologists cater to people with mood disorders, anxiety disorders, eating disorders (ED), attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), and more.
• Sleep issues: Several factors can prevent you from getting a full night’s sleep. Stress can disrupt your sleep, insomnia can make it hard to fall asleep, and even conditions like restless leg syndrome can be too uncomfortable to let you rest. A sleep disorder doctor will assess your symptoms and instruct you on improving your nightly rest. However, they might recommend visiting a sleep clinic if your symptoms continue or worsen. 

Additionally, if your doctor has already prescribed you medicines during an in-person visit, they can share a prescription refill online with you. Here are a few topics you must discuss with your doctor during online consultations regarding a prescription refill:

• How effective have the medications been?
• Are you facing any side effects because of the medicines?
• Are there any alternative medicines or non-medicinal treatment options you can seek?

What medicines can online doctors near you prescribe?

Online doctors can prescribe antibiotics, antihistamines, analgesics (painkillers), antidepressants, and other psychiatric drugs, steroids, PDE (phosphodiesterase) inhibitors, antihyperlipidemic agents (medicines to lower cholesterol levels), etc. Their prescriptions are equally valid as in-person prescriptions, and you can use them to purchase medications online or over the counter. Online doctors can also offer prescription refills for medicines prescribed to you during an in-person or virtual visit.

However, each US state has its own laws regarding which drugs an online doctor can and cannot prescribe. The laws aim to reduce medication abuse. Controlled substances could fall into the following categories: stimulants, opioids, abortion pills, ketamine, benzos, and anabolic steroids. 

Further, the Ryan Haight Online Pharmacy Consumer Protection Act of 2008 requires any doctor prescribing controlled substances to conduct an in-person assessment beforehand.

What is remote monitoring in healthcare, and how does it work?

Remote monitoring refers to using various technologies that enable your healthcare provider or medical team to track and manage your health from a distance. These tools allow for real-time or periodic updates without needing in-person visits.

One can use several types of remote monitoring technologies:

• Web-based or mobile applications: These allow patients to upload health-related information, such as food diaries, medication intake, or blood glucose readings. For instance, individuals with diabetes might regularly log their meals, sugar levels, and medications, which can then be reviewed by a nurse or healthcare provider.
• Digital health devices: Gadgets that measure vital signs—such as blood pressure, blood sugar, or oxygen saturation—and send the data wirelessly to your healthcare team are increasingly used. These tools help providers monitor your health metrics over time.
• Wearable technology: Wearables can automatically record and transmit data like heart rate, sleep patterns, blood sugar levels, posture, gait, physical activity, and tremors. These are especially helpful for managing chronic conditions and tracking overall wellness.
• Home monitoring systems: These are particularly useful for older individuals or those with dementia. Such devices detect changes in daily routines, including signs of falls, which may indicate a decline in health or mobility.
• Reminder devices: Some tools send alerts or reminders to help you remember to take medications or perform prescribed exercises, supporting adherence to treatment plans.

Together, these technologies enhance convenience, ensure continuity of care, and enable early detection of potential health issues.

Online doctors vs. in-person visits

Seeing a doctor online is different from in-person appointments. While the quality of treatment you receive might not differ, each mode of consultation is better than the other in some instances.

For instance, you should use telehealth services if:

• You have already seen the doctor in person and are just following up.
• You need a prescription refill or want to share test results with your doctor.
• Your doctor needs to monitor chronic health conditions like arthritis and asthma.
• You want to see a psychiatrist or a psychologist for mental healthcare.

On the other hand, one can go for in-person visits when:

• It is your first time seeing a new doctor.
• You need medical tests that require a hands-on approach, such as ultrasonography (USG), checking for lumps, or a prostate examination.
• Anyone needs urgent medical care for time-sensitive or life-threatening conditions.

What are the limitations of telehealth services?

While telehealth improves care coordination, it has some limitations. Lack of in-person exams may affect diagnoses, and there's potential for overuse or unnecessary treatments. Insurance coverage for virtual care varies by state and provider, though it has expanded since the COVID-19 pandemic. Access is another concern—patients without internet or smart devices may struggle to connect. Public places like libraries may offer Wi-Fi and private rooms for virtual visits. Lastly, technical glitches can interrupt sessions, so it’s wise to have a backup plan to connect with your provider by phone if needed.

How do you find the right online doctor near you?

Finding reliable online doctors can be challenging, as the process involves severe privacy-related concerns. If you seek online healthcare for the first time, you might wonder if a virtual session can be as helpful as in-person doctor appointments. However, with Zocdoc, you can forget all your worries and find the best doctors near you!

Start by creating a Zocdoc account. Next, mention your condition, location, and insurance plan on the website. This will generate a list of top-rated online doctors. Using the filters, you can sort all Zocdoc online doctor profiles by their gender, the languages they speak, and whether or not they treat children.

On Zocdoc, every online doctor has a dedicated profile containing information about their educational qualifications, accreditations, hospital affiliations, licensures, experience, and areas of expertise. You can also go through ratings and reviews from verified patients to make an informed decision before booking an appointment.

You can use Zocdoc’s insurance detector to identify in-network doctors near you. You can add medical, dental, and vision insurance plans to your Zocdoc account. However, you can only search for and schedule an appointment with one plan at a time. If you have multiple plans, you can mention your secondary plan and carrier in your notes for the provider in the last step of your booking process. Plus, if your provider uses Zocdoc’s Intake forms, you can add details about secondary insurance while filling out your forms online. For more insurance-related queries, check Zocdoc's patient help center.

With Zocdoc, booking an appointment with an online doctor near you is 100% free, safe, and simple.

Statistics related to telehealth and telemedicine

A 2019 Commonwealth Fund report regarding the percentage of medical practices that offer four online functions - making appointments, requesting prescription refills, checking test results, and viewing summaries of patient visits - placed the US (≈50%) in second place globally. This number increased in 2020, most likely due to the COVID-19 lockdown. According to a 2020 report issued by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, there was around 154% rise in telehealth visits across the US during the first quarter of that year. 

CDC released a report in 2021 detailing telemedicine use among adults in the US. Its findings state that around 37% of all adults used telehealth services during the past twelve months. Additionally, women (≈42%) were more likely to use these services than men (≈31.7%), and there was a progression in the number of adults who used telemedicine with age. Around 29.4% of adults between 18 and 29 used telehealth services, while the number was the highest (≈43.3%) among adults over 65.

Further, the percentage of adults using telemedicine also increased with the level of education. Nearly 28.7% of adults with less than a high school diploma resorted to telehealth, whereas the percentage among adults with a college degree was around 43.2%.

According to a 2023 forecast by Future Market Insights, the market value of the telehealth and telemedicine industry in the US could increase to almost $912 billion by 2033. The market value could grow at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of about 24% from 2023 to 2033.

Sources

Zocdoc

K Health

Mayo Clinic

CBS News

everlywell

SingleCare

GlobeNewswire

The Commonwealth Fund

American Psychiatric Association

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

Healthline[1]

Healthline[2]

The content herein is provided for general informational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Medical information changes constantly, and therefore the content on this website should not be assumed to be current, complete or exhaustive. Always seek the advice of your doctor before starting or changing treatment. If you think you may have a medical emergency, please call your doctor or 9-1-1 immediately.