Did you know that the use of telemedicine in the United States jumped from slightly more than 15% in 2019 to more than 86% in 2021? This impressive increase was born out of necessity as the world faced the COVID-19 pandemic, but patients and providers alike have kept up with this approach to delivering quality health care.
Today, telemedicine holds an important role in healthcare, and Dr. Ariel Soffer and our team of primary health care providers at Soffer Health Institute are pleased to make this option available to our patients.
To give you an idea about why telemedicine for primary healthcare is here to stay, here are just a few of the many benefits of this service.
If you asked our patients, many would cite convenience as the primary advantage of telemedicine. Instead of getting into the car, negotiating traffic, and finding parking, patients who use our telehealth services can save time by letting healthcare come to them.
Using video technology, we can meet with you wherever you are — at home, in the office, on the road — so your day and your healthcare don't skip a beat.
If you’re feeling sick, the last thing you feel like doing is dragging yourself to the doctor’s office. With telemedicine, you can preserve what little comfort you have by meeting with us virtually and remotely to get the healthcare you need.
As we already mentioned, the sudden rise of telehealth was fueled by the global pandemic and designed to stop the spread of viruses like COVID-19. Well, since viruses are still making their rounds, we can keep you and others safer through telemedicine.
So, if you’re sick, you can meet with us through video chat and prevent spreading germs to others when you’re physically in our office.
On the other side of the coin, if you’re immunocompromised or coming for a well visit and just don’t want to be exposed to contagious diseases, telemedicine can be preventive, as well.
Around 129 million Americans have at least one chronic disease, and these health issues often require close monitoring. If you're dealing with a chronic disease, such as cardiovascular disease, there’s a lot we can do remotely to oversee your health, such as monitor symptoms and tweak your medications.
Of course, you still need to meet with your primary care team in person from time to time for testing and hands-on care, but telemedicine can be part of the overall mix .
Telemedicine is ideal for quick check-ins, such as patients who embark on weight loss. As of 2022, all 50 states in the US had obesity rates of at least 20%, and primary care providers across the country are fighting back through medical weight loss programs.
At our practice, we offer weight loss services, including GLP-1 medications, and telehealth is a great way for us to track your progress from afar and provide accountability that helps keep you on track to meet your goals.
To see for yourself how incorporating telemedicine into your primary care can improve your life without sacrificing your healthcare, please contact one of our offices in Weston or Hollywood, Florida, to set up an appointment.
