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Telehealth at San Luis Valley Health
A Convenient and Safe Way to Communicate with your Providers
San Luis Valley Health is now offering a wide variety of services via telehealth visits for eligible patients. Telehealth services are particularly useful for patients who have chronic health conditions, need prescription refills, or hesitate to travel a long way to the clinic.
During your phone or video consultation, your provider will assess your condition and ask you questions. Your healthcare provider conducting the telehealth visit may be able to diagnose and treat your condition based on their interview with you. However, your telehealth visit may just be the initial tool to direct you to another course of action. For instance, some patients are advised to come to our clinic for a follow-up visit, and others are directed to go to their nearest emergency room or proceed to an outpatient X-ray facility or to get lab testing. Your provider may also remotely prescribe or order refills for your necessary medications.
When Should I Utilize Telehealth Services?
The following are examples of conditions or symptoms can be assessed via telehealth:
- Mouth lesions such as canker or cold sores
- Chickenpox
- Pink eye
- Cold, flu, and allergies
- Constipation or diarrhea
- Coughing
- Fever
- Headaches
- Heartburn
- Insect bites
- Minor injuries
- Painful urination
- Rashes
- Sinus pain or pressure
- Sore throat
- Behavioral health services
- And more
Examples of Visits that Must be In-Person
- Annual Exams or Well Visits
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Preventative Visits, such as
- Pap smears
- Immunizations/Vaccinations
- Mammograms and Colonoscopies
- Prenatal care
- Procedures
- Wound Care
- Acute trauma or injury if not a follow up visit
- Suture removals
- Pre-Operative Physical
- Any concern for a physical exam such as broken or sprained bones
Call 9-1-1 for the Following Emergencies
Certain conditions are not practical for remote assessment. You should NOT schedule a telehealth appointment if you are experiencing potentially life-threatening symptoms. Call 9-1-1 for emergency medical assistance instead.
Examples of possibly serious symptoms that require immediate medical attention include:
- Chest pain
- Breathing difficulties
- Seizures
- Signs of a stroke, such as one-sided weakness, facial drooping, and slurred words
- Suspected fractures
- Uncontrolled bleeding
- Loss of consciousness
How to Join Your Video Visit on the Portal
Click here for a guide on how to navigate your video (telehealth) visit in the patient portal.
The Convenience & Accessibility of Telehealth
Contacting your provider by either phone or video has allowed many patients to experience the convenience of not leaving their home. Our patients report satisfaction with their virtual visits with providers at San Luis Valley Health. One patient said, “I didn’t feel rushed. I wrote down all of my questions before my appointment. Everything went very smoothly, and I felt encouraged and plan to use this type of visit again, especially because my commute was over one hour one way to the doctor’s office.”
Contact us today at San Luis Valley Health for a remote appointment via your phone or electronic device. Call (719) 589-3000 for primary and specialty care appointments. Call (719) 589-8100 for therapy.