Prescription medicine is changing rapidly. The average American spends over $1,300 on prescription medications, which is a burden for many families. Many Americans also struggle with accessibility to important drugs. As a result, they are taking new measures to reduce costs and also improve convenience.
Technology is growing more and more each year. With such sweeping technological advances as the internet, smartphones, and teleconferencing, it’s no wonder the idea of virtual doctor’s visits has been taking off in recent years. With those doctor visits comes the opportunity to ditch the hassle of going into the city to see your primary physician.
Prescription medicine has also changed as a result of advances in technology. Wearable technology has even had an impact on prescriptions. It also eliminates the need to see a doctor every time you need your prescription refilled. In this article, we’ll discuss online prescriptions and how they work. Check it out below.
Why Get Prescriptions Online
There are a few good reasons to get your prescriptions online, but nothing trumps the convenience and cost-effectiveness of consulting with a doctor remotely and ordering prescriptions online. Getting an online prescription is much like making a phone call to the pharmacy. In this case, you consult with a doctor first, get some vital details about the prescription, and can have it delivered to you or picked up later that day. You can also use this method to get prescription refills, removing most of the hassle from that particular process.
How Online Prescriptions Work
If you’re wondering how online prescription Services work, it’s really very straightforward. You simply sign up, find a doctor, make an appointment, speak with the doctor, and get your prescription. That’s as simple as it gets. Online prescription services usually work on a subscription basis. Check out the pricing for using the service regularly. Some can be as simple as a $15 per month visit plus your copay if you have insurance. If you don’t have insurance, it’s still locked in at a monthly rate with a slightly higher premium to see the doctor. If you want to get started with online prescriptions, it’s essential you find a service that can help address your specific needs. You may be able to find one through your insurance provider, or you can look for one that is offered through a telemedicine service. There are plenty of options, so keep a lookout and search thoroughly to find the best one for you.
Booking An Appointment
To get started with online prescriptions, you simply need to book an appointment. Find a telemedicine service that offers online prescriptions. Input the appropriate information and have the service match you to a doctor that can help you. Then you simply set up your appointment for a time that’s convenient for you. Once everything is set up, you just need to make sure you keep the appointment and speak with the doctor to get the ball rolling on your prescription.
Consulting With a Doctor
The most important part of your online visit is going to be the doctor’s consultation. First, you need to find a doctor. The service will usually match you with a board-certified doctor that’s in your specific state. After that, you should let them know if you need accommodations, check the instructions for the visit, and decide if you’re going to do it via phone or teleconferencing. If you’re doing it through video, you’ll need a steady camera and a well-lit spot. You also need to make sure you can hear the doctor. If you’re doing it over the phone, consider using a speakerphone so you can hear what they’re saying better. Try to eliminate background noise or static as much as possible. The consultation is the most important part of this process, so be sure you take the proper steps to do it right.
Getting Your Prescription
Following your consultation, your doctor will send your prescription to the pharmacy of your choice. If you’ve chosen delivery as an option, they’ll send it to you through the service that provides those deliveries. After that, it’s nearly a matter of heading down there and picking it up. If you need a refill, you’ll need to do this process again just to go through the proper channels. Online doctors cannot prescribe controlled substances and certain other types of drugs. But they can offer a wide array of different prescriptions suitable for a range of medical conditions. Picking up your prescription from the pharmacy still requires you to physically visit the pharmacy. But with telemedicine, you can select the nearest one to make it as convenient and easy as possible. Online prescriptions and refills offer a glimpse into a bright future for medicine in general and can help pave the right path forward to address anyone’s pharmaceutical needs.