Bacterial infections can cause serious problems if not treated properly. Fortunately, UR Medicine providers can prescribe you antibiotics through telehealth.
“The option to get evaluation, treatment, and antibiotics over video is a breakthrough,” said Marque-Ann Mattle, P.A.C., physician assistant and lead APP for the UR Medicine Medical Center Digital Health Team.
“Such convenience is especially important for those who live in rural areas, who work or care for children during typical medical clinic hours, or who don’t have transportation.”
Accessing Antibiotics Through Telehealth
Table of Contents
- Accessing Antibiotics Through Telehealth
- During Your Virtual Visit:
- Conditions That Require Antibiotics
- If you have a bacterial infection, we can prescribe antibiotics through telehealth, so you get better soon. A few bacterial conditions we diagnose via virtual visits include:
- When Antibiotics Aren’t the Cure
- Get Care Now
When you have a bacterial infection, antibiotic treatment is often necessary. Otherwise, your condition will worsen. Virtual Urgent Care allows you to be evaluated and, if needed, receive antibiotics when you can’t access your primary care provider.
To get started, grab your smartphone, computer, or tablet and visit UR Medicine Virtual Urgent Care online. After following a few simple steps, you get connected with an expert in just a few minutes, all within the comfort of your home or anywhere else with internet access.
“Simply seeing you on video helps us provide the right care,” Mattle said. “We can determine whether your health is stable or you need a higher level of care immediately and if an antibiotic is a safe and appropriate option for you.”
“Anytime we can’t diagnose you through Virtual Urgent Care and end up referring you to urgent or emergency care, we don’t charge for your virtual visit,” Mattle said.
“However, we always document your illness in your chart, so that your PCP, urgent care facility, or emergency department can easily review your symptoms and our discussion, allowing them to quickly understand your situation and continue your care seamlessly.
During Your Virtual Visit:
- You’ll discuss your medical history and symptoms.
- Your provider asks a series of questions to get to the root of your problem. Once you’re diagnosed, your provider develops a treatment plan.
- When appropriate, your treatment includes an antibiotic prescription—all arranged through telemedicine.
- If your illness requires an in-person exam or higher level of care (such as the Emergency Department), we’re committed to treating you with the care you need.
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Conditions That Require Antibiotics
Through Virtual Urgent Care video visits, we diagnose dozens of conditions without an in-person physical examination. Based on your symptoms and medical history, we can diagnose allergies, viral illnesses, bacterial infections, and more.
Some bacterial infections benefit from in-person care. Pneumonia, for example, requires specialized testing that can include:
- Blood tests to determine whether your immune system is actively fighting infection
- Chest X-ray to detect inflammation within the lungs
- Pulse oximetry to measure the amount of oxygen in your blood
With mild pneumonia symptoms, you may not need immediate care. In these cases, your virtual provider may recommend watchful waiting. If you don’t improve in a couple of days, contact your primary care provider or head to urgent care for additional testing.
If you have a bacterial infection, we can prescribe antibiotics through telehealth, so you get better soon. A few bacterial conditions we diagnose via virtual visits include:
We also offer convenient follow-up care via Virtual Urgent Care to ensure you recover properly.
We also offer convenient follow-up care via Virtual Urgent Care to ensure you recover properly.
When Antibiotics Aren’t the Cure
According to the American Academy of Family Physicians, viruses cause the vast majority of upper respiratory tract infections. While it’s necessary to prescribe antibiotics for bacterial infections, antibiotics are powerless against viral infections. So, it’s not helpful to take antibiotics if you have COVID-19, laryngitis, flu, cold, or any other viral infection.
In fact, taking antibiotics for viral infections can cause problems. Reasons to avoid unnecessary antibiotic use include:
- Evolving bacteria. When you overuse antibiotics, bacteria change to become harder to treat. If this happens, it may become difficult to find the right antibiotics to fight your next bacterial infection.
- Increased cost. Recovering from a viral infection often just takes time. There’s no need to pay for medication that won’t resolve the problem.
- Side effects. Mild side effects of antibiotics include rash, nausea, diarrhea, and yeast infection. You can avoid these side effects by not taking antibiotics when they’re not helpful.
But with so many infectious diseases, how can a medical professional diagnose you with a virtual visit and determine through telehealth if you need antibiotics?
“We ask a lot of questions,” Mattle said. “It’s important that we only prescribe antibiotics when they’re appropriate, and that we prescribe the right antibiotics to the right patient.”
Get Care Now
For help managing your health without an appointment, visit Virtual Urgent Care at UR Medicine. If you’re having a medical emergency, call 911.
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