It’s gotten to where we never need to leave the house. The pandemic fast-tracked a wave of technology that allows us to work remotely, order groceries, enjoy first-run movies, have meals delivered, and yes, take care of our health in the privacy and convenience of our own homes.
Thanks to telemedicine, you can take care of your family’s health by talking to doctors, ordering prescriptions, and even monitoring blood sugar and blood pressure through apps.
But what exactly is all this — telehealth? Virtual care? Let’s break it down.
- Telehealth is the use of digital information and communication technologies to access healthcare services remotely and manage your healthcare. It can mean clinical or non-clinical services. It’s the big umbrella term for not having to walk into a healthcare facility to receive care. Technologies can include computers and mobile devices, such as tablets and smartphones. Or a nurse or other healthcare professional may provide telehealth from a medical office or mobile van, such as in rural areas.
- Telemedicine is under this umbrella — defined as remote clinical services.
- Virtual care is another spoke of the umbrella. It is a component of telemedicine. It’s the capability of communicating with a healthcare provider via secured remote access, whether that means phone, live video, or online email like MyChart.
Benefits of Blood Tests
The whole point of telehealth is to focus on the wellness of your family by making healthcare services as accessible and convenient as possible. It is a prevention technique developed to catch any problems early by alerting a provider to something troublesome.
One of the best ways to detect a problem is through bloodwork. Blood is a great communicator about problems in the body, and at Any Lab Test Now®, we are designed to be a health center resource for you. We want to make your family’s health a priority.
Advances in technology now give us the opportunity to take our health care into our own hands. But, when it comes to blood tests, leaving the actual blood draw to a trained professional is the safest option. You can go to Any Lab Test Now® without an appointment and have the whole family taken care of in one fell swoop.
One test that provides a big picture about your health is a Complete Blood Count or CBC. This test gives important information about the kind and the number of cells in your blood. Physicians use this information to evaluate symptoms, help diagnose conditions, and treat certain illnesses (like infections).
As you focus on your family’s health, there are two additional tests that can provide useful information if a member of the family has picked up bad habits. The first option is the Urine Drug Test (5-Panel). This is a laboratory-based test that will detect the presence or absence of five types of drugs or their metabolites in the urine. Urine analyses are typically used for pre-employment drug screenings, but parents of teenagers may want to consider this test as part of the Trust, But Verify Program from Any Lab Test Now®. The Urine Drug Test takes anywhere from 48 to 72 hours for results. A more immediate option is the Blood Drug Test (5‐Panel), which determines the presence or absence of five types of drugs or their metabolites in the bloodstream. Blood drug analyses are best when it is suspected that someone is actively under the influence of drugs or alcohol. Drugs are detectable in blood within minutes to hours, depending on many factors, such as the drug and the amount ingested. This test is a laboratory-based test and includes a screen and a confirmation if necessary.
If you would like to discuss the results of this or any other blood test, Any Lab Test Now® provides DialCare — a service that is useful for customers who might not have health insurance and want to consult with a provider about the results or customers looking for privacy when it comes to results. Or perhaps you don’t have time for a virtual or in-person appointment with your own provider.
School is Back, Take Back Your Health, Too
Any Lab Test Now® makes it easy to prioritize your health. As we head back to school, it’s more important than ever to be on top of you and your child’s health, whether that means coming in for COVID-19 testing or to get answers to health concerns. Having bloodwork done provides options, whether that’s peace of mind or a direction toward healing, it’s a great step in ensuring you’re doing all you can to safeguard your family. For the testing of children under 13 years old, parents should reach out to their local lab to confirm they perform pediatric blood draws before heading to that location.
Any Lab Test Now® is a safe, confidential, and convenient for you and your family. We have more than 200 locations across the country. For the best way to start the school year, click here to find your local Any Lab Test Now® location.
