Medically Reviewed by Bryon K. Frost, MD

Note: If you are looking for information specifically about McLeod Telehealth appointments as a result of the Coronavirus, please visit this special section of our website where we have all of the information complied.

There’s a new way to get medical help from a physician 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. McLeod Emergency Physician Bryon Frost, MD, explains the benefits and convenience of the newest form of care for minor illness from McLeod Heath.

Here is a summary of Dr. Frost’s comments:

Traditionally, patients have accessed health care by going to seeing their physician in the office. Telehealth allows them to access a physician on their terms. Through an Android or an Apple device, they download an app from the app store to access McLeod Telehealth. Through that app, they’ll be able to have an encounter with a physician for their health problem.

The physicians you’ll talk to are all board-certified family doctors, emergency medicine, or urgent care physicians with an interest in caring for people via telehealth.

We’re aware of the difficulties patients go face in their daily lives. They need to access health care or see a physician. Yet, their busy schedules prevent it. It’s complicated leaving work for themselves or a child to see a doctor in the office, urgent care or emergency room. Telehealth allows a person to access a physician anywhere, anytime 24/7 online with a smartphone, tablet or computer.

In a way, Telehealth brings back the way we used to experience a doctor’s house call.

Telehealth is best suited for healthy patients with minor illnesses, such as an upper respiratory infection, a urinary tract infection, an ear infection, flu or sore throat.

It’s very convenient for patients to get prescriptions. We can send it directly to your pharmacy. It’s also easy to get a work excuse. The other part that patients appreciate is that they get a transcript with details of their discussion with the physician. If instructions were given, it’s in the transcript. They can print it, give it to their primary care physician or just save it for future reference.

To access this, it’s only $49. You can use a credit card. Some insurance plans will reimburse you for the visit or use your health savings account or your flex spending account to pay for the visit.

Using the McLeod Telehealth app is very easy. Go to the download store — either the Android or the Apple app store – and download it to your device. It walks you through a simple registration process and brings you right into the “waiting room” to see a physician.

For more information on McLeod Telehealth or to get the app, click here.