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If you’re feeling under the weather or experiencing a minor medical issue, you’ll probably want to see a doctor, but may not want the hassle of leaving your home.
The good news is that you can get help with many minor conditions or illnesses without having to physically go to a doctor’s office. With MyUPMC, seeing a provider virtually is an easy process.
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Scheduling a Video Visit with MyUPMC
Intended for non-emergency symptoms, MyUPMC allows patients to schedule video visits and receive high-quality care from their UPMC provider through a smartphone, computer, or tablet.
To schedule a video visit, go to the Appointments tab in MyUPMC and click “Schedule an Appointment.” Select the correct UPMC provider and complete all appointment details. If you are in need of a provider, you can use UPMC’s provider directory to find a doctor and schedule a video visit.
What to Expect at Your Video Visit
To start your visit, just open the MyUPMC app or visit MyUPMC.com and log in or create an account using your email. Fifteen minutes prior to your scheduled appointment, click the purple “Start Video Visit” button on the home screen under your appointment date and time. You’ll enter your virtual exam room and your UPMC provider will join shortly.
During your video visit, your provider will look over the information you provided and ask more questions about how you’re feeling.
As a part of your exam, your provider may ask you to:
- Aim your screen to allow for a closer look at your eyes, throat, or other part of the body.
- “Palpate” or feel a certain area of your body and describe how it feels (warm, swollen, etc.).
- Move in a certain way to check for pain or range of motion (such as touch your toes or move your arms over your head).
- Show them any medications that you are currently taking.
Your provider can prescribe a medication (if appropriate) or talk you through at-home treatments. Though there are many conditions providers can treat virtually, you may need to show up in person for testing (such as blood work or an X-ray). If your condition is serious or an emergency, you will be directed to head to the emergency room.
After your visit, a summary with details from your appointment will become available within your MyUPMC account and be stored in your UPMC record. That way, when you follow up with your primary care provider, they can see the diagnosis, medications, or treatment recommendations.
Tips for Having a Successful Video Visit
The first tip is simple: If you’re not feeling well, don’t wait. The sooner you get care, the better.
Here are a few other tips that can help your visit go smoothly:
- Take pictures ahead of time of bites, rashes, swollen ankles, or other problems and follow the directions to upload them. This gives the provider an opportunity to look at still images ahead of time. It stays in your medical record, providing a baseline image to know if a rash or other condition has gotten worse.
- Find a quiet, well-lit spot where you’ll be able to focus. A kitchen chair is fine, as long as family members won’t be running through.
- Avoid sitting with a window right behind you, because back-lighting makes you difficult to see. You might want to bring a lamp near your chair or have a desk lamp illuminating you. Shine the light directly on you from the side or front (not behind).
- If you have headphones or ear buds, use them. If you’re using a computer, check to make sure your audio is working.
- Write down any questions ahead of time you have. Have pen and paper handy for taking notes.
- If you have them, keep any at-home medical equipment nearby for taking vital signs, such as:
- Scale
- Blood pressure cuff
- Thermometer
- Pulse oximeter
- If the visit is for your child, keep them near as you wait. You don’t want to have to track them down once the provider enters the visit. Just as you might in a physical waiting room, have a book or other activity to keep them occupied while waiting.
Download the free MyUPMC app or visit MyUPMC.com to get started. For questions, please call the MyUPMC Support Line at 1-800-884-8579.
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About UPMC
Headquartered in Pittsburgh, UPMC is a world-renowned health care provider and insurer. We operate 40 hospitals and 800 doctors’ offices and outpatient centers, with locations throughout Pennsylvania, Maryland, New York, West Virginia, and internationally. We employ 4,900 physicians, and we are leaders in clinical care, groundbreaking research, and treatment breakthroughs. U.S. News & World Report consistently ranks UPMC Presbyterian Shadyside as one of the nation’s best hospitals in many specialties and ranks UPMC Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh on its Honor Roll of America’s Best Children’s Hospitals. We are dedicated to providing Life Changing Medicine to our communities.
