Long Distance Health Care: How to Manage Your Health From Miles Away
James Grant, M.D.
| 3 min read
James D. Grant, M.D., is executive vice president an...
Key Takeaways
- Telehealth services and a 24-hour nurse line let Michigan residents receive virtual care and prescriptions without traveling to a doctor's office.
- Wearable devices and health monitoring apps provide real time data to providers, helping manage chronic conditions from a distance.
- Checking plan coverage, scheduling appointments in advance and following basic wellness habits such as a nutritious diet and regular exercise are keys to effective remote health management.
How do you stay on top of your health care if you don’t live close to providers and health facilities? In Michigan, nearly 1.7 million people live in a rural area, where the nearest doctor’s office can be many miles away.
Additionally, other factors can make it difficult to get to a health facility, like winter storms, lack of transportation or physical limitations.
But through technology and self-management skills, you can break down these barriers. Here are several tools to help you access needed health care when in-person services are a challenge.
Telehealth
Many health plans offer the ability to talk with or be seen by a health care professional over the phone or via video call. Depending on your provider, they may be able to see you directly through an online virtual visit.
If you cannot see your regular doctor right away, some health plans offer additional options where you are matched with a provider who is specially trained to provide virtual care.
You can use an online visit for minor illnesses such as respiratory infections, colds and flu. And a provider can send a prescription right to your local pharmacy, so you can be on your way to feeling better quickly.
Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan members also have access to a toll-free, 24-hour nurse line at 800-775-BLUE (2583).
Online services and mobile apps
If you have a smartphone or tablet and an internet connection, you have access to a trove of apps and services offering information and support online. There are many online groups focused on conditions, such as diabetes, asthma or heart disease, that offer resources and support to help you manage your health.
There are also online resources and support groups for mental health, family planning, menopause and other issues where it’s helpful to connect with others.
Wearables and monitoring devices
Advances in medical technology have made it easier for your health care team to monitor health conditions and events remotely. Wearable devices can monitor blood pressure, heart rhythms, blood sugar and sleep apnea, and send alerts to your medical team when an irregularity is detected. Often, these monitors provide ongoing data and metrics that help your health care team keep track of health patterns and manage any changes.
Smartwatches and fitness trackers also can provide you with ongoing information about your heart rate, breathing rate and sleep quality, which you can use to report back to your provider.
Other tips for managing your health
If you live in a remote location or have barriers to accessing in-person health services, check to see if your health plan offers telehealth options and whether online services and monitoring devices are covered.
If you are buying health insurance through the Health Insurance Marketplace, now is the time to make a change if you want to switch to a plan with these options.
Additionally, it can help to plan ahead for check-ups, appointments, blood work and other tests you know you will need. Of course, maintaining a healthy lifestyle also can help prevent illness and keep chronic conditions in check. Here are other tips for a healthy lifestyle:
- Maintain a balanced diet with plenty of fruits and vegetables and limited fat and sugar.
- Don’t smoke.
- Limit alcohol consumption.
- Exercise at least 150 minutes a week.
- Get at least seven hours of good quality sleep a night.
With a combination of technology and lifestyle modifications, health care access doesn’t have to be far away.
James D. Grant, M.D., is chief medical officer at Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan.
Image: Getty Images
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