Telemedicine visits are playing an important role during the pandemic, but in-person visits with your doctor remain essential. Dr. Sonia Bisaccia, a family medicine physician at Mercy Medical Associates at Springfield, urges patients to head into the doctor's office at least once a year. She says it's important for her to have a hands-on well visit, to listen to the patient's heart and lungs, look into ears and throats and check for swelling of legs and other issues. She says without those face to face visits, problems can be missed and small issues can become bigger problems requiring additional medical care.
Patients should also make time for annual health screenings such as mammograms, gynecologic visits and melanoma checks. If it's time for you to get a colonoscopy, don't put it off just because we're in a pandemic. And if your doctor orders blood work, make sure to get that done in a timely manner. Dr. Bisaccia says the lab screenings help her monitor a patient's care, especially if the person is on medication that could damage critical organs.
She admits that telehealth visits are helpful and have been vital for patient care in the past year. But, in-person visits are safe.
She says her office follows all COVID-19 patient protocols. Masks and PPE are required, the waiting rooms are closed and patients are seen one at a time, and exam rooms are disinfected on a regular basis.
