**This is a sponsored post with Mums the Word Network and Amwell. Reviewer received a free visit to facilitate an honest review. All opinions are those of an FCS team member.
Times have certainly changed in the healthcare industry as to the options available when needing to be seen by a doctor. To that list of options one can include Amwell Telehealth Urgent Care Service.
I can remember when doctors did house calls in addition to office visits. That stopped – probably because of the increase in the population and/or insurance purposes. We then needed to be seen solely in a doctor’s office. For an emergency – to the local Emergency Room at a hospital we went. Next came Urgent Care Centers being placed into communities – giving individuals another choice of when and where to be seen. And now one can add to the list of choices – Telehealth Urgent Care services.
Amwell Telehealth is just that – an online Urgent Care service. Amwell is found on the web, or through an app (android & IOS). The beauty of this service is that one doesn’t need to leave their home to be seen by a doctor for a diagnosis of simple ailments. Most often the doctor can prescribe prescription meds (unless your state doesn’t allow this), when appropriate.
Who Would use Amwell’s Service?
Anyone who finds the need for a doctor that doesn’t fit in the realm of needing emergency services. You don’t want to be wasting time with a tele-visit if you’re thinking you’re having a heart attack or if you’re having suicidal thoughts –
A few reasons people go online to see a doctor:
- I feel like I should probably see a doctor, but can’t really fit it into my over-booked schedule.
- I’m flying tomorrow and can’t get out of work.
- It’s difficult for me to get a doctor’s appointment.
- I’m not sure if I should go to the ER or not.
- My doctor’s office is closed and I don’t want to go to an urgent care clinic or hospital
- I just moved and don’t know any doctors in my area.
- I just need a second opinion.
- I’m between jobs and have no coverage.
- I have a question about a loved-one’s health and would like some advice.
Some of the most common conditions that can be diagnosed and treated online:
- Bronchitis
- Cough
- Sinus infection
- Sore throat
- Urinary tract infection
- Vomiting
- Diarrhea
- Fever
- Pinkeye
- Flu
- Sprains and strains
- Cold
- Respiratory Infection
- Headache
- Depression
- Anxiety
- Weight concerns
- Smoking Cessation
Who are the Doctors You’d be Speaking to?
- The doctors you would see would be licensed physicians in your state.
Does Insurance Pay for These Visits?
- Many insurance companies will pay for the online visit. However, should you not have insurance, a 10-minute visit is $49.00. For readers of Finger Click Saver’s, save $10.00 off your first visit with the promo code: LOVEAMWELL10.
Our Thoughts
***Let me say this first!***
***If you can capture an image of what is going on – do so before beginning your visit. There is a place for you to upload images once you’re logged in. I hadn’t realized that, and wished I did, as the provider could have actually seen what my shingles looked like at the time of the visit.***
Onto our Amwell visit. We found Amwell is so easy to use. You can utilize them on the web, or through an app (android & IOS). Sign up was simple! Within five minutes, I had myself signed up online, (children under 18 can be added to your account).
Because I don’t have a camera on my PC, I downloaded the app to my iPad. Fast and simple to do. I then logged into Amwell. I was asked to choose the reason for my visit (Medical, Nutrition, Psychology).
I then needed to answer the following prior to being seen:
- What the reason was I wanted to see a doctor for?
- I was asked what my medical conditions are
- What medications I was on
- What my billing status was IE: insurance, no insurance
The available provider was already seeing a patient, so I was asked if I wanted to wait in the “Waiting Room.” I thought it was super kosher that I was provided with a profile of the doctor I would be speaking with. Had I not liked her credentials, I could have waited until other providers became available.
That said, in reading the provider’s profile I was very much at ease in speaking with her; so I opted to wait for her to come aboard. My wait was less than five minutes before she connected with me.
Once connected with me, the provider introduced herself. We had a glitch where she couldn’t see or hear me and since they ask for a phone number in case of any issues, she called me immediately on my phone. She had me refresh the app and we were then good to go.
One of the very first things that I was asked was what state I was from. This is to ensure that the provider is licensed to practice in the state you reside. After that, we went over my medications and conditions list. Next came my question I wanted answer to.
The issue for me at hand, was that I was wondering what I could take to help with the pain of shingles. You see, I had been diagnosed with shingles on my upper left butt cheek the day before my Amwell visit. The pain I was experiencing had already started three days before, but gradually progressed as time went on.
By the time I had my visit the pain was not only from my backside through to my pubic bone, but headed down my leg and into my toes. It was becoming increasingly hard to sit. My thighs were feeling heavy and crampy. I wanted to know if I could take Motrin around the clock to aid in that pain, or if there were something else that would help my pain.
The provider was amazing at explaining how shingles pain works. She reassured me that the medications I had been given was an aggressive treatment plan for me. I was informed of a couple other meds that I could be put on for neuropathy pain; however any narcotic – including morphine and any anti-inflammatory, would not work for shingles pain. Her advice to me was to see if I could wait it out rather than go on another medication specifically used for neuropathy pain.
The provider I spoke with was extremely professional. She spoke in terms that I could understand. She answered any questions I had. Would I use the Amwell Telehealth service again? ABSOLUTELY! I was left feeling that I had received the care and advice I was in need of.
Have you ever used Amwell Telehealth, or a similar service? What was your experience – please share.