'Can save lives': Ukrainians in the USA talked about their experience of online medicine
The United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends that doctors schedule as many consultations as possible through audio and video communications and in this way learn about possible coronavirus infections. It is stated in the video "Voices of America".
Maya Abdulaeva, a former resident of Kiev and a virologist, lives in the city of Manassas (Virginia). She says that she met her future husband, an American, also a virologist, at a bird flu conference.
And she learned about the new coronavirus from her own experience. On April 3, her throat was a little sore, and already on April 6, in the evening, the woman became difficult to breathe. The doctor she contacted by telephone told her to immediately go to the emergency room.
“They did several tests there, looked at the oxygen saturation of my lungs, checked my breathing, did an x-ray and told me that I had a viral infection and all the symptoms of COVID-19,” says Maya.
At the hospital, she was prescribed cough tablets, an inhaler and told to stay at home and isolated from her family for at least 2 weeks. The rest of the treatment, Maya says, was through online medicine.
“Over the years, I’ve used online medicine 6, maybe 7 times. It’s a pretty simple procedure, you don’t need to go to the doctor for an appointment,” says Maya.
On the subject: Two immigrant doctors from Ukraine die from coronavirus in New York
In the United States, there are several platforms and applications on the online medicine market that allow doctors and patients to communicate securely. There are also special tests that can be done at home. Online medicine is practiced not only by therapists or infectious disease specialists. For example, Yuri Deichakovsky, a cardiologist from Maryland.
“We have an electronic database. This system contains all the information about the patient - medications, procedures performed, medical history. Therefore, we can talk with the patient and at the same time check medications and change doses,” says Yuri.
Many patients have home-based pressure measuring devices and heart rate monitors at home.
Depending on the state, virtual visits are compensated to doctors at the level or almost at the level of real consultations. But Deichakovsky says that the possibilities of online medicine are limited, no one will do this operation, but sometimes it can save a life.
“They even call me from the intensive care unit. The person with whom I had a consultation and who told me about the symptom of an acute ischemic condition ended up with them. I told him that either someone needed to take him to the hospital, or call an ambulance,” says Yuri.
On the subject: When the most difficult is over: a Ukrainian in China spoke about life in quarantine and after it
Even dentistry has found a place to provide services online. Dentist Alex Osinovsky says pain is a common reason for a virtual visit.
“We ask patients what happened, and on the computer we see pictures and medical records. This way we can understand what happened and decide whether it is necessary to come to the appointment, or we can call the pharmacy and prescribe medications,” says Alex.
You can also virtually discuss further treatment plans.
One of the largest online medicine platforms in the US, reports more than 100 virtual visits per week. Doctors, experts and patients say that online medicine, which is undergoing rapid development, will remain with us for a long time after the pandemic.
Read also on ForumDaily:
A unique method of reading notes: how a Russian woman opened a music school in Los Angeles
When the most difficult is over: a Ukrainian in China spoke about life in quarantine and after it
Do you want more important and interesting news about life in the USA and immigration to America? — support us donate! Also subscribe to our page Facebook. Select the “Priority in display” option and read us first. Also, don't forget to subscribe to our РєР ° РЅР ° Р »РІ Telegram and Instagram- there is a lot of interesting things there. And join thousands of readers ForumDaily New York — there you will find a lot of interesting and positive information about life in the metropolis.