TELEMEDICINE
If you ’ re stuck at home or can ’ t make it to the doctor ’ s office , a telemedicine visit may be the solution .
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When it ’ s too difficult to get into the doc ’ s office and COVID has you homebound , book an appointment with Brown Emergency Medicine ’ s TeleCARE program . This program allows people of all ages to virtually visit a skilled physician from the comfort of home . Whether you have a mild rash or moderate abdominal pain , seeing a doc with the TeleCARE system is easy . Doctors Gary Bubly and Susan Duffy are two of the many physicians who can be seen for an appointment . “ COVID-19 really made [ telemedicine ] mainstream and , out of necessity , many people were forced to use a technology that was already there . You practice the same kind of medicine , but it ’ s just in a virtual setting ,” says Duffy .
TeleCARE can be used by patients for a variety of health care issues they may be facing , including psychiatry .
“ Certain specialties and practices have seen an increase in volume when they switch to telemedicine , so psychiatry in particular is
TALKSPACE : Connect with licensed therapists from home . Talkspace is a subscription therapy service where you can send a therapist text messages , audio messages , as well as picture and video messages in a private , text-based chat room all from your phone . talkspace . com
HEADSPACE : Created by Andy Puddicombe , a former Buddhist monk , Headspace provides simple techniques to make meditation and mindfulness easy . Try the free basic course as a trial , and if you like it , subscribe for meditation exercises on everything from stress to sleep . headspace . com made for it ,” says Bubly . “ It ’ s perfect because patients can avoid the stigma of walking into a psychiatrist ’ s office . They are less dependent on the physical exam in psychiatry , so it ’ s great for that .”
And according to Bubly , a TeleCARE appointment is just like walking into your doctor ’ s office for an exam . While the exam is the part that takes more creativity , so much of medicine is from the history of the patient anyway .
Accessing the TeleCARE system is simple and can be done anywhere with internet access . Plus , the website is easy to use . Just locate the tab for either a pediatric or adult appointment , select a time slot and fill out your information . You ’ ll receive a confirmation email and text message , informing you which physician you will be seeing the day of your appointment . TeleCARE is available from noon to midnight every day of the week at a time suitable for your schedule and needs . brownemtelecare . org
Mental Health Apps
These apps make focusing on your mental health more accessible than ever .
MOODFIT : Keep a mood journal to increase awareness , create a personalized daily workout for your mental health , partake in breathing exercises to help reduce stress and feelings of anxiety and more exercises to keep your mental health in check . getmoodfit . com
AURA : Reduce stress , increase positivity and get restful sleep through three-minute meditations . Aura provides short , personalized mindfulness meditations , life coaching , stories and music . Plus , listen to guided meditations or enjoy simple sounds of nature . aurahealth . io
66 RHODE ISLAND MONTHLY l MAY 2021