Social distancing
Social distancing guidelines encouraging
people to stay in their homes as
much as possible led many to wonder
what to do in regard to visiting their
physicians. Telehealth is one option
people may want to explore. Sometimes
referred to as “telemedicine,”
telehealth enables patients to speak
with their physicians via phone, tablet
or conferencing apps such as Zoom.
This can help patients and their physicians
reduce their risk for exposure
to viruses such as COVID-19, but also
other conditions that can weaken
their immune systems and, as a result,
make them more vulnerable to illness.
But as helpful as telehealth can be
while social distancing restrictions
remain in place, it’s important that
patients continue to seek the advice
of their own physicians. One of the
concerns about telehealth noted by
representatives for the U.S. Department
of Health and Human Services
is the difficulty of monitoring health
care providers who may not have
patients’ best interests in mind. This
can lead to certain problems, including
overprescribing medications and
doctors offering medical advice to patients
in states where the physicians
are not licensed to practice. Speaking
only with physicians who have already
treated you is one way to avoid this
potential pitfall associated with telehealth
services.
See Mom
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30 Years
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& Trial Stays
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Beckley, WV
(304) 252-5452
800-552-8785 • thebayberryinn.com
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