Pneumoniais a bang out of lung infection that can range in severity.
Symptoms include cough, fever, chills, and trouble breathing.
They may be very mild or can be highly severe, requiring hospitalization.
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In this case, you may be concerned about spreading the virus further or coming into contact with others.
If your symptoms are not severe,telehealthcould be a viable option to speak with your medical team.
Telehealth During COVID-19
Telehealth use has increased during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Telehealth can also help minimize the risk of COVID-19 transmission due to lessening direct physical contact.
Therefore, telehealth will not always be the best option.
However, sometimes it can be challenging to pinpoint a diagnosis of pneumonia.
So, telehealth is not always the right option for pneumonia.
Your access to telehealth will also depend on your location and insurance coverage.
Telehealth coverage has expanded due to the COVID-19 pandemic and is now easier to access than previously.
Being uninsured might affect telehealth availability, but Medicare and Medicaid offer some telehealth coverage.
They will want to understand your symptoms and the problems you are having.
If if you don’t understand something during the call, ask your clinician to explain.
However, pneumonia can be serious, and telehealth is not always the best option.
You may still need to attend an in-person appointment or seek urgent care if you experience severe symptoms.
American Lung Association.Pneumonia symptoms and diagnosis.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Pneumonia.
2011;66(Suppl 4):A31-A31.
