Be Healthy Series 2

In this presentation we want to help you understand what telehealth is. Some of you may have questions about how to use telehealth and how it would benefit you. Today we will help answer those questions and more.

Telehealth is the use of electronic information and telecommunication technologies to provide care when you and your doctor aren’t in the same place at the same time. If you have a smart phone or a device with internet access, you already have everything you need to get medical care or services through this platform.

Through telehealth you can:

Talk to your doctor live over the phone or on video chat.

Send and receive messages from your doctor using chat messaging, email, secure messaging, and secure file exchange.

And you can use remote patient monitoring so your doctor can check on you at home. For example, you might use a device to gather vital signs such as body temperature, blood pressure, heart rate, and breathing rate. 

The goal of telehealth is to make life easier. 

If you’re looking for a way to feel more peace of mind, telehealth is for you. 

You can make  an appointment from the comfort of your own home, and won’t have to worry about the challenges of traveling.

According to Harvard health telehealth has many benefits. 

Including the ability to provide care to people who have trouble getting around on their own, or those who live in rural areas and don't have easy access to a local doctor or clinic nearby. 

Telehealth has become even more essential during the COVID-19 pandemic. Telehealth can help eliminate the fears of catching the virus by going to an in-person doctor visit.

Doctors can also provide you with care from the comfort of your own home. Family doctors may be able to consult with a specialist in real-time by sending a picture or set of data. This helps you as a patient eliminate the unnecessary wait time of scheduling another appointment and making another trip.

Overall telehealth is affordable. But it can vary in cost. so always make sure to check with your doctor before setting up an appointment.

Telehealth can treat a variety of illnesses and problems. 

Chronic conditions that require long-term management like arthritis, allergies, and diabetes, can all be treated using telehealth.  And Recovery from a surgery or major health event that requires follow-ups or check-ins.

Also Mental health resources to manage previously diagnosed depression or anxiety.

And Common health issues or illnesses like the cold, flu, ear infections, pink eye or respiratory problems and much more can all be diagnosed using telehealth.

Are you worried you won’t be able to navigate how to use telehealth? Despite the many benefits of telehealth, seniors have been slow to use this form of healthcare. 

It’s important you feel confident using a computer or smartphone. If you experience computer anxiety, consider searching online for a course on basic computer skills or smart phone skills, or have a friend or family member assist you. 

Talk with other seniors who are using telehealth about tips or tricks that they found to be helpful. 

Make sure you only start a video conference or access your health information on a personal computer and in a private location. This will help keep your medical information safe.

There are many statistics supporting that telehealth is on the rise. 

The use of telehealth has grown significantly over the last decade. 

According to health dot Harvard dot E-D-U, currently 76 percent of hospitals in the U.S. connect doctors and patients remotely using telehealth, which is up from 35 percent a decade ago.

Almost three-quarters of Americans surveyed said the pandemic has made them more eager to try virtual care. 

And one in four Americans over age 50 said they'd had a virtual health care visit during the first three months of the pandemic, which is up from just four percent of older adults who'd had a remote visit the previous year.</p>

Telehealth is used in three main ways. 

Live interactions - which is when the doctor communicates with a patient in real time with a computer or with a smartphone.

The Store-And-Forward approach - which is when health data is recorded, stored, and then forwarded to your healthcare team to review. It could include taking a picture of a rash and sending it to your dermatologist, or having a radiologist send and X-ray to your primary care doctor to evaluate later. 

And

Remote patient monitoring - this is a device that collects data on a patient–such as weight, blood sugar, or heart rate, and submits it to a nurse, doctor, or caregiver in another location. This helps eliminate the need for frequent doctor visits.

Even though telehealth is often more convenient, some seniors may prefer a traditional visit to the doctor. In some instances, doctors insist that an in-office visit is the best way to diagnose and treat illnesses. 

If this is the case, telehealth can be used as a supplement to in-person healthcare, rather than a replacement.

It is also not possible to do every type of visit remotely. 

You still have to go into the office for things like imaging tests and blood work.

The security of personal health data can also be a concern for some.

It’s important you feel safe when using telehealth. 

HIPPAA or the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act, requires that your doctor’s office use secure software that has several secure channels between patients.  

Cybersecurity ultimately relies on the patient. For this reason, its important you are educated on cybersecurity

Make sure all your apps and your operating systems are up to date before using a telehealth platform. 

Its important to enable anti-malware and virus scans to run at all times.

Also restrict app permissions to what’s necessary for app functionality.

Recognize what a cyber-attacks looks like so you don’t fall into a trap.

Talk to your doctor today to see if telehealth is right option for you. Here are 5 tips to consider before you make a telehealth visit. 

1. Whether using a cell phone, tablet or computer for the appointment, make sure your internet connection is reliable. 
2. Call your doctor’s office before your appointment if you have any questions about the meeting software.
3. Before your appointment, write out a list of questions you want to ask your doctor.
4. Make sure you have a place to write down any information your doctor gives you.
5. Find a quiet, well-lit place for your appointment, and avoid light sources coming from behind you.

Now that you have watched our presentation, you might still have some questions. Please watch the MDLIVE training video, for a step by step guide of how to access free telehealth visits under your Optima Health insurance plan. 

Thank you for choosing Optima Health!

MDLIVE fast, easy, convenient, quality online healthcare. You bank online. You shop online. Now you can see a doctor online anytime from any place.

The power of having an online doctor visit, nights weekends, 24/7 365 days a year is in the palm of your hand.

It only takes a few steps to register and have an online doctor visit using your smartphone. Registering is easy. Enter basic information like your name, date of birth, and insurance to complete your MD live account setup. That's it. You're registered. Next complete your health profile, just answer the same questions you'd be asked at your doctor's office.

Completing your health profile now will save you even more time when you need to have an MD live online doctor visit. You can also elect to have your diagnosis, and treatment plan shared with your primary care physician.

Now you're ready to see a doctor or schedule a visit. Just tap the find a provider button on the screen. Please select allow, so that MD live can access the phone's microphone, and camera for video consult, and location for provider availability in your state.

Select who the visit is for, and the reason. In addition to the symptoms you enter, you may also upload a photo for the provider, review your medical history, and confirm pharmacy location.

Prescriptions will be sent to your pharmacy of choice if medically necessary. Select first available or specific family physician to schedule your MD live visit.

If you're offered the choice select the type of appointment you'd like, phone or video. Payment screen is displayed if you have any cost share.

Copay or any payments are collected through credit or debit card.

Fast, easy, convenient, quality healthcare.

You're all set. After your visit if you've opted in during registration your diagnosis and treatment plan will be shared with your primary care physician.

Feel better faster. MD live.

Source: MDLIVE.com

Staying healthy is important at any age – but as you get older, it’s even more important to take charge of your health to ensure that you are doing everything possible to stay at your best.

In this presentation we will provide you with some top tips to help you stay healthy.

We will review each of these seven tips listed on your screen in more detail and discuss how they can help you manage your health and well-being.

As a Medicare beneficiary, you may have heard about the Annual Wellness Visit. So what is it?

This appointment is held at your Primary Care Physician's office and is much more than a routine physical.

This informational discussion with your doctor establishes your current health today and identifies ways to keep you active and healthy in the future.

The annual wellness visit is a good way to help you stay in touch with your provider and ensure that you get the help you need with preventive care planning.

So why is the annual wellness visit so important?

Much like financial planning, the Annual Wellness Visit is when you can discuss your current health, what your goals are, and how to achieve them.

Your doctor will review your medical history and work with you to develop a customized wellness prevention plan. Staying healthy at any age takes planning, just like saving for retirement.

Now that we’ve discussed the importance of the annual wellness visit, you may be wondering what to expect at the appointment.

At the annual wellness visit Your doctor will:

• Review your individual and family medical history.
• Review your medication.
• Document all providers, including specialist and medical equipment suppliers involved in your care.
• List all major surgeries and hospitalizations, including emergency department visits.
• Take height, weight, blood pressure and complete a vision screening, and give assessments on functional mobility and fall risk.
• Discuss advance care planning and review documents.
• Create a schedule of needed preventive services for the next 5 to 10 years.

Here are a few tips on how you can prepare for your Annual Wellness Visit.

1. Brown bag it. Bring all of your medications with you on your visit. This includes prescription medications, and even vitamins or supplements that you buy over-the-counter. There’s a lot of important information on the bottles themselves, so just bring them all with you!
2. Gather information. Bring a list of your past and current medical conditions and surgical history, your current healthcare providers, and your family medical history.
3. Write down your questions. Take the time to write a few notes down so that you don’t forget to ask about any concerns you have.

Did you know that attending an Annual Wellness Visit can help you stay healthy and prevent issues from getting worse?

Your Annual Wellness Visit is a good time for you to ask questions while you are feeling well. Many times we only schedule medical appointments when we are focused on illness or aches and pains. The annual wellness visit is the perfect opportunity to ask questions about topics you want to learn more about.

With a $0 copay, there’s no reason to delay scheduling your appointment! This yearly visit is completely covered by your Medicare plan. Call your Primary Care Provider’s office to schedule your Annual Wellness Visit today.

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The Annual Wellness Visit is an informational discussion about your plans to stay healthy throughout the year and even in the future.

During an Annual Physical Exam, your provider takes an in-depth look of your current health and completes a comprehensive head-to-toe physical exam.

Your doctor will also evaluate your health history and ensure any chronic conditions are being managed properly.

The Annual Wellness Visit and Annual Physical Exam both play major roles in managing your health.

The Annual Wellness Visit is a discussion about your health plans for staying well throughout the year.

The Annual Physical Exam will evaluate your medical status, it may include lab work, blood pressure readings, and an assessment of your physical health.

One thing both of these visits have in common is that they’re completely covered by your plan! There is a $0 copay for attending your annual wellness visit and the annual physical exam.

Another great tip to help you stay healthy is to stay on top of your preventive care.

Attending your annual wellness visit, annual physical exam, and periodic screenings for certain conditions are great examples of preventive care.

By participating in these preventive activities, your provider can spot small problems before they become larger, more costly problems.

Preventive screenings can help identify symptoms of some diseases sooner which can result in earlier treatment and better outcomes.

By preventing chronic medical conditions with early treatment, you can experience a better quality of life.

Here is a list of health screenings and exams you may want to consider.

• Annual Wellness Visit
• Annual Physical Exam
• Breast cancer screening
• Colon cancer screening
• Other cancer screenings, such as skin, lung or prostate cancer
• Routine dental cleanings
• Eye health and vision exams

Another helpful tip is to become familiar with your prescriptions!

Keep a list of all your medications, doses, and reason for taking the medication.

Don’t forget to tell your doctor everything that you take, even over-the-counter medications.

If you have any questions about your medications, speak to your doctor or pharmacist.

Use an alarm or find an app on your smartphone to remind you when to take your medications. Remember that if you don’t take your medications, they cannot help you. Also never stop taking medicine without talking to your doctor first.

If you notice any side effects of your medications, tell your doctor about it.

90-day prescriptions are a great way to ensure you don’t run out of your medications, and sometimes they can be cheaper. Mail order is safe, secure, and easy. Mail order also saves you a trip to the pharmacy.

Don’t forget to take care of your emotional and mental well-being, too. Even when you're physically healthy, your emotional wellness should not be overlooked.

When you are not feeling well mentally, it can make it difficult to do the things that are important for maintaining your physical health, such as exercising, taking your medications, drinking plenty of water and eating a balanced diet. It is okay to feel a little down every now and then, but if you are feeling overly stressed, anxious or sad for more than a couple days, reach out for help.

Here are a few emotional and mental exercises to try:

Decompress; set an alarm for the same time each day to allow yourself five to ten minutes to work on an activity you feel relaxing; this could be yoga or meditation, or it might even painting or listening to soothing music.

Participate in support groups this may help you find comfort in hearing that others are experiencing similar feelings.

Being an active participant in your healthcare can help you feel less stress and worry about your medical conditions. Don’t be afraid to research your condition or ask questions. Knowledge is power! Being an active participant in your care and making decisions alongside your healthcare provider is important to being in control of your health.

Sleep is important for maintaining both your physical and mental health. Poor sleep is directly related to stress. If you have trouble sleeping at night, try following a relaxing routine, cutting back on screen time, or decreasing your caffeine intake.

As we age, it’s more important than ever to Stay Active.

Staying active as you age is important to prevent falls, keep your immune system strong, and improve your quality of life.

Make sitting less and moving more a habit; get up, stretch and walk around the house during commercial breaks, work on some active chores like dusting, sweeping, and vacuuming daily, take frequent walks outside. You should try to get at least 150 minutes of activity in each week. Do exercises that improve your strength, endurance, balance, and flexibility. Don’t get caught up in excuses. Find activities you enjoy doing so that you stay motivated. You don’t need to join a fancy, expensive gym to exercise; find items around the house like soup cans and water bottles that can be used as weights. If you think you’re too tired to exercise, do light activities that day . Regular exercise will give you more energy for the day.

Here’s an important tip that can help you manage your health AND can help you earn a few dollars!

Participate in the Healthy Rewards program where you can earn a gift card just by completing preventive services, such as going to your Annual Wellness Visit or Annual Physical Exam.

The satisfaction you get from participating in the rewards program is more than just earning a gift card. Preventive care and staying on top of your health is important to healthy aging. The rewards activities can help you manage your overall wellness and help you develop a roadmap to achieve your health goals.

Visit optimahealth.com and go to the Medicare Members Home Page. Here you will see a link to read more about the rewards program.

Now that you have viewed our presentation, you might still have some questions. We encourage you to reach out to the Optima Medicare member services team for help:

Call 1-800-927-6048 (TTY 711) The hours of operation are on your screen. Thank you for choosing Optima Health!

Thank you for choosing Optima Health!