On a recent Saturday I found myself -- as I do most fall Saturdays living in a major college football town "“ on the campus of Clemson University. Making my way past the zillions of tail gaiters, I came across a medical emergency unfolding right in front of me. An ambulance had somehow made its way through massively-clogged campus streets to a jam-packed parking lot. Worried that one of my husband's marching band students had fallen ill or became injured, I stopped to ask what had happened.
From what I could gather, the situation involved a person having an allergic reaction and there was some question about administering an EpiPen. It seemed the paramedics had everything under control and I sure hope the patient is OK now.
But I couldn't help but wonder "“ how long did it take for the ambulance to arrive? Emergency services on campus have game day down to an exact science, but it still had to take a lot longer than usual.
And I'm sure it took longer than two minutes. A lot longer. Why do I mention two minutes?
In two minutes or less, the family could have been on the phone with a First Stop Health doctor getting immediate help. Perhaps our physicians would have advised the family to call 911. But bringing a licensed physician's opinion into situations like this can give clarity and avoid expensive ambulances or trips to the clinic or ER. There's a good chance we could have helped the Tiger fan family from what became a college game-day-turned-pricey.
It's but one example of how telehealth can revolutionize our healthcare decisions.
Many medical episodes can be immediately handled over the phone. And with First Stop Health, there are no questions about your insurance provider. No paper work. Nothing between you and talking to a doctor. Plus, there's no hit against a deductible.
Game day, traveling for the holidays, working on the road or just sitting at home on a Sunday "“ there are so many times when illness or injury strike. Now, it's just a matter of clicking a button online or dialing a number to have a conversation with a doctor. (If you are like me and rely on Siri, you just say, "Call First Stop Health.") Don't we all have better things to do with our time and money?
Telehealth is the way healthcare should be.
Learn more about pricing and plans for individuals and families here, or if you're an employer, check out our employee benefits plans here.
