Gone are the days of waiting in the doctor's office to be treated. CVS is changing the healthcare game, and all you need is their app.
It's called Telhealth and it's the latest way patients can be treated. Doctor's offices have been doing it for awhile, but now CVS's Minute Clinic is jumping on board. Whether you have insurance or not, you can use it.
There are a few stipulations if you're planning to use the video visit. You can only be seeking treatment for a minor illness, injury or skin condition. Each phone call will cost you $59.
To get started, users will need to download the CVS app and complete a health questionnaire. Users will then be matched with a healthcare provider in the patient's state. They will look over the questionnaire and the medical history provided. After that, the video chat begins.
Many say this method is a better option than self-diagnosing yourself on WebMD. However, it does beg the question: can you really be properly diagnosed over the phone?
Kevin Flynn with Healthcare Advocates says Telehealth is helpful in many ways, but there are a few downsides, especially if you think you have the flu.
"There's also a danger with the flu, which is dehydration," says Flynn. "Can a doctor really properly diagnose the dehydration over tele-medicine?"
Flynn says Telehealth is great for those over the age of 40, who know and understand their bodies. But he says it's not great for the younger population, who don't really know that much about their health.
If you still like going into the doctors office to be treated, Flynn says, a little secret in the health world in that some doctors will take cash for an in-person consultation.
And if you have insurance, make sure to check your plan doesn't already offer virtual chats before you go through CVS.
