Modern technology has revolutionized our lives. With the advent of smartphones, we have access to a range of services in our pockets. Hungry? Order takeout via an app. Need your brows fixed or a quick mani/pedi? There’s definitely an app for that. We track our steps, monitor our diets, and interact with friends via the little machine in our handbags, but did you know that there’s a way to take mobile health care to the next step? Telemedicine is the next new frontier in health care.

While it’s been around for over a hundred years, telemedicine is having a contemporary renaissance thanks to mobile technology. Simply put, telemedicine is the diagnosing and treating of patients via telecommunications technology. It is empowering patients around the globe to seek excellent health care at a fraction of the cost and at far more convenience to them.

How can one access telemedicine? Luckily for patients, there are several options available. It is possible to sign up with certain services to avail of unlimited health care at a flat monthly fee. Other services charge per appointment but it is up to each patient to pick the option that works best for them. The best thing about telemedicine is that it is easy and convenient. Traditional doctors may often only see patients during office hours, which means that it can be difficult to schedule an appointment if you work a busy and demanding job. With telemedicine, you will be able to see a doctor as and when it suits you.

Most people have a smartphone these days – which means most people can benefit from the convenience of telemedicine!

While it may seem unorthodox, the process of a telemedical appointment is actually very simple. Depending on the service you choose, you will either make a pre-set appointment at a time that works best for you or hang out in a virtual waiting room until a doctor is ready to see you. When you’re both ready, you’ll begin a video or audio consultation where you’ll speak openly with your doctor about your issue, just as you would with an in-person doctor. Depending on the issue at hand, you will either finish your consultation with professional advice or you can ask your doctor to fax or email a prescription to the pharmacy of your choice. No muss, no fuss, and everything is taken care of for you.

A benefit of telemedicine is that it is usually cheaper than traditional doctor’s visits. Increasingly, many insurance companies are also covering telemedical appointments, but this will depend on the specific plan that you have. In addition, if you are infirm, it is far easier to access a doctor via telemedicine than to leave the house, risking further injury, or to pay an extra fee for a doctor to visit your home.

One of the main ways that telemedicine is currently being used is for the female contraceptive pill. The nature of the contraceptive pill requires women to undergo a simple blood pressure check when they need their prescription renewed after six months. However, with telemedicine, this arduous process no longer exists. Women can fill out a simple survey online and then visit their pharmacist for the blood pressure check and then get their contraception.

Your pharmacist and telemedical professional can work together to make health care easier for you.

Another use of telemedicine comes in the form of counseling and therapy. While going to see a psychologist is necessary for many people in today’s stressful world, it is inaccessible to many due to the financial strain. However, there are now apps and websites that offer remote psychotherapy via phone calls, video chats, and instant messaging at reduced rates so that patients can access treatment as and when they need it. In this way, telemedicine is changing lives and making things far easier and convenient for patients.

The best thing to do if you’re thinking of beginning a journey on telemedicine is to pick a service that will allow you to keep all your medical records in one place. While you won’t always be able to see the same doctor, a centralized records system means that no matter which doctor you see, they will always have the correct information on hand from your past consultations to be able to offer you the best advice possible.

It may seem like telemedicine is a weird way to access medicine, but it truly is the way of the future. Why wouldn’t you pick an option that affords you flexibility and costs less? Telemedicine puts the power in the hands of the patient and removes the high cost of appointments and high stress that many patients face while visiting a traditional doctor’s clinic. The best thing to do is try it for yourself and see how it goes. You’ll be pleasantly surprised, with more money in your pocket and another app to add to your phone’s collection. What’s not to love?

The advent of hormonal contraception completely revolutionized the lives of women in the Western world. No longer reliant on unpredictable forms of natural birth control, women were able to take control of their families, lives, and careers by using hormones to instill formal family planning. While the types of birth control have become more numerous as time has progressed, the contraceptive pill is still the most popular form of hormonal birth control in the United States. So how do contraception and telemedicine go together?

As birth control has modernized, so have the methods that women use to obtain it. Telemedicine has truly revolutionized patient care in general, but for people who are looking for contraception, it’s the perfect method. Telemedicine can be defined as the usage of telecommunications technology to deliver medical or diagnostic advice. It has been around since telecommunications technology was invented, but is experiencing a huge surge since the introduction of smartphones. New technology means that it’s easier than ever for patients to access healthcare.

Obtaining the contraceptive pill can be a drawn-out and inconvenient process for a lot of women. Firstly, you need to visit your doctor and answer a lot of questions, then you get your blood pressure taken and you get your prescription. The kicker is that you have to go back to the doctor every time for a repeat prescription, shelling out the extra money just for a five-minute blood pressure check and a new piece of paper.

The combination of contraception and telemedicine is perfect for busy women.

This just isn’t the case when it comes to the contraception and telemedicine combination. All of the hassle is taken away for patients. Instead of waiting and paying top dollar, you simply log on via your phone and the rest is taken care of. Usually, you will make an appointment or simply “walk in” to an online clinic. When you get through to a doctor, you’ll speak to them via the camera on your phone. If it’s your first time getting the contraceptive pill, they’ll ask you some questions about your medical history and if any women in your family have suffered from certain illnesses. If you’re deemed suitable, your prescription can be sent to your pharmacy, where they’ll take your blood pressure. When you need a repeat script, just log back on, request one, and then go to the pharmacy for the script.

The pairing of contraception and telemedicine is beneficial for many reasons. Firstly, you’re saving money, as most telemedical patients do. As telemedical doctors don’t have the same overheads as traditional doctors, their appointments are usually far cheaper. As well as that, telemedical doctors do not expect you to be beholden to traditional appointment times. If you’re a busy, professional woman, it’s unlikely that you’ll have the time to take to go to a doctor’s appointment for contraception. Telemedicine is actively putting the power back in your hands by allowing you to access health care at a time and place that suits you.

Usually, you can attend an appointment from any location, once you have privacy. The only place that you’ll need to travel to is your pharmacy. This is another bonus in getting contraception via a telemedical doctor. If you have a spare moment while you’re catching up on your favorite Netflix show, you can log on and renew your contraceptive prescription. It’s the easiest thing in the world and way more convenient than schlepping across town to visit your doctor. Who has time to see a doctor in-person when you can do it from your couch?

Your telemedical professional and pharmacist can work closely together to deliver your contraception.

One of the best things about this method is the way in which your telemedical doctor and your in-person pharmacist can work together. While your doctor will give you all of the advice that you need and will send your prescription straight to your pharmacist, your pharmacist is there to answer any questions that you may have about the medication itself, as well as administer your blood pressure test. Pharmacists are highly trained individuals and are used to helping patients ask questions about their medication. If you have any concerns about the medication you’ve been prescribed, you can speak to your pharmacist and then go back to your doctor for a different prescription and to ask further questions if you need.

All this considered, it’s clear that contraception and telemedicine are the perfect pairing. Where else will you be able to access life-changing medication from the comfort of your own home, while also being able to ask all of the relevant questions of a qualified medical professional? Everything about modern technology serves to make our lives easier, so why not bring that philosophy into your medical life? Empower yourself and make your life more convenient by pairing contraception and telemedicine. You won’t regret it for a minute!