DISC is continuing to improve and expand its telemedicine offerings. Due to the Coronavirus pandemic, DISC rapidly grew its Virtual Consultation service in March earlier this year. Beyond mitigating the risk of spreading COVID-19, there are many benefits to Virtual Consultations at DISC, including their convenience, time-savings, and comfort.
Day of Your Consultation
Once you join your Virtual Consultation from your home computer or phone, you’ll meet with your DISC doctor. Your doctor may either be in their office, a DISC patient consultation room, or a DISC conference room.
Usually, the Virtual Consultation will begin with a debrief on the pain or discomfort you are experiencing. Your doctor may ask you to get up in front of your webcam and move your body in certain ways to more accurately diagnose your issue. For example, if you’re having an issue with your back, your doctor may say something like, “Can you please take a few steps back and lean your body to the right? Does that worsen your pain?”
If you’ve already had imaging done (x-rays, MRIs, etc.), your doctor may share their screen with you and walk you through the imaging. Your doctor could use different models (spine models, charts, etc.) to help explain the issue you are experiencing.
If during your diagnosis, your doctor feels they need an in-person consultation in order to more accurately diagnose or consult a patient, your doctor will then begin a discussion of whether or not you can come into DISC’s facility for an in-person consultation. If an in-person consultation is necessary, you can be comfortable knowing that the DISC facility is meticulously sanitized and well ventilated in order to mitigate the spread of COVID-19.
Next Steps
At the end of your Virtual Consultation, your doctor will give recommendations on what next steps ought to be. If you’re a good candidate for it, your doctor may recommend more conservative treatment options such as physical therapy. At DISC, we do not rush into surgery without exhausting other more conservative options first.
Set up your Virtual Consultation at DISC today.
About the author
Grant D. Shifflett, MD Dr. Grant D. Shifflett is a fellowship-trained orthopedic spine surgeon. Handpicked by Dr. Robert S. Bray Jr. to join DISC Sports & Spine Center, Dr. Shifflett specializes in the application of minimally invasive and microsurgical techniques to the entire spectrum of cervical, thoracic and lumbar spinal conditions, from the simple to the most complex. Whether treating a patient with chronic pain or an acute injury, his ultimate goal is to restore function and quality of life with minimal tissue disruption. Read more articles by Grant D. Shifflett, MD.