This article is intended for folks who have never done telemedicine, and may be unsure of how it works.

This unusual time in our life that we have all been facing has brought many weird changes – no hugs, no dinner gatherings, no restaurants, and… no face-to-face visits with the people who take care of our medical needs, since most practitioners have switched to Telemedicine as temporary means of caring for their patients.

Even though most offices either have or will be opening back up on a limited basis, it looks like Telemedicine may be here to stay.

I’ve been doing phone consultations in my practice with folks from all across the US, Canada, and South America for decades, and have always found it to be satisfying for me and for my clients.  With the improvements in both internet and the new platforms – Zoom, Webex, Google Hangouts, etc. – being able to see my client’s faces has been a treat!  So much so that, as of June 1, Telemedicine will be my permanent means of contact (you will still make appointments as usual through Hawthorn).  In addition, other practitioners at Hawthorn will integrate this as a part of their offerings for those unable to visit the clinic in person. 

The meaty part of this article is really intended for those who have an aversion to this form of medicine.

Some of you may struggle with the related technology, and some of you may simply miss the personal contact.  Again, the hugs!  I hear you on that one, and can’t do anything to help (virtual hug!).  I can help you with the technology piece, though. 

We are all using Zoom at the clinic.  It’s very user friendly, it’s free, and most of the time you don’t have to download anything to run the program.  For first-time Zoomers, I will walk you through the steps.

For a Zoom meeting, the practitioner will email you an invitation that contains the practitioner’s name, the time of the meeting, and a link in which the meeting number and password are embedded.  When you click the link, it will take you right to the meeting.  If it’s your first time, it may prompt you to download the Zoom platform.  It takes just a few minutes, and the developers at Zoom have done a great job of tightening security.

After you have clicked open, you may see a message that says “Your meeting will start shortly.”  That simply means that your practitioner hasn’t entered the meeting yet.  When they do, both of your faces will appear onscreen.

Once you are visually connected to the meeting, you’ll see some little icons down on the bottom left corner of the screen.  One is for audio, and the other is for video.  If they have a red line through them, it means that your practitioner won’t be able to see or hear you.  When you click on them and the red line goes away, you’ll be in complete contact with your person.

That’s it!  I think you will be surprised at how easy it is to feel connected to your practitioner once you see them face-to-face.

A few random notes:

  1.  We don’t care what you look like on the other end!  Don’t worry about make-up or puffy eyes or wild hair or anything else.  We just want to see your beautiful face.  We also don’t care what your house looks like.  For folks with kids?  We expect mayhem.  Don’t worry about that, either.
  2. Try to face a window or a light so that it illuminates your face.  Again, we want to see your face.  In addition to creating a better experience, it will help to assess your overall condition.
  3. Noise in the background can be picked up in the same way it is with a hearing aid, meaning everything sounds the same.  Take a moment to mute the TV, or perhaps find a corner away from the family.   I’ve done sessions with folks who have tucked away in a bathroom, a car, or a closet, all because they were the only private places available.
  4. Take a moment to look at yourself up in the right-hand corner of the screen.  It will show you what you look like to us.  Again, we want to see your beautiful face – your whole face, not just your nostrils, your forehead, or your ear.

 If you have problems connecting, don’t hesitate to call the front desk.  Allyson or Chris can put you into direct contact with the practitioner you’re supposed to be seeing, and they can easily talk you through the steps needed to connect.

For Zoom appointments, call the front desk at Hawthorn just like you would for any other appointment.  541-330-0334.

I promise, you’ll get used to it! Sincerely, Kathy