As nearly half of Canadians report having mental health issues by the age of 40, very few people get an adequate amount of care that they need. Thankfully, with the help of Canadian health insurance hotline tools, there are ways for people to get treated for whatever they're battling. Even if you're worried about a clicking in your knee or an unexpected bruise, the hotline helps people find out what to do next.
Here are four things to know about Canada's telehealth services.
1. Get Advice When You Need It
Go anywhere in the world and you'll have a tough time finding a resource where you can get medical advice whenever you need it. While there are 24-hour hotlines that help you when you're in an emergency situation or on the brink of something serious, there are few just for advice. People dealing with extreme situations have had access to virtual care for years, but not people dealing with minor issues.
If you noticed something odd and would like to speak to someone confidentially, most people call their doctor and book an appointment for weeks from now. However, if the problem is minor or even normal, it's good to be able to find out as soon as possible. If it's something serious, it's better to find out now than to wait for several weeks.
Having the chance to get a registered nurse on the phone is rare. However, with Telehealth Ontario's service, you can speak to a nurse seven days a week. No matter what hour you call, you'll get an RN on the phone who can help you out.
While some people might prefer email advice if they're too shy to talk or not in a position to, that's not available. It also ensures there's no paper trail for people who are dealing with a serious issue. You might not think you want confidentiality now, but if you want it later, it's too late to go back once there's email evidence.
They can be called toll-free at 1-866-797-0000 or via TTY at 1-866-797-0007.
2. How it Goes Down
When you connect your call, you'll be speaking to a Registered Nurse, not an amateur or someone without qualifications. You're talking to someone who works in the medical field day in and day out and who have seen everything once. When you explain your health problem, they'll give you expert advice that can help.
Don't expect your nurse to give you any diagnosis over the phone. Doctors, thankfully, don't just hand out terminal diagnoses without looking at tons of charts, data, and scans. None of this can be done over the phone so don't expect anything but some advice to get you through what you're dealing with.
You won't be able to get any medication or antibiotics as a result fo your phone call. You'll get some direction and suggestions on where to get the care that you need. They'll act as a conduit to get you in touch with the kinds of health professionals who'll help you out.
The nurse can help you figure out how much of the problem you can handle on your own. They'll let you know whether you should go to a doctor, an NP, or head out to an emergency room for immediate care. Know that their advice comes from years of experience.
3. Wondering Who is Eligible?
If you're wondering who is eligible to call the telehealth hotline, it turns out that just about anyone can. If you have a Health Card, you'll be able to connect to a nurse as part of your government-issued healthcare. When you have a health-related question, you can get simple questions answered ASAP, even just questions you have about the care you're about to receive.
The service is totally confidential. While you might be asked to provide some insurance information, it's not always required. If you want to get more detailed care information, that's when your insurance information would be helpful.
You can get this service in English or French. There are even translation services available in some other languages. You'll be surprised as to just how many languages are supported by the services at no cost at all.
Since it's free, you should take advantage of this service whenever you need it. Rather than worrying or sitting on an issue for too long, just make the call today. It's well worth the time to put your mind at ease or get the care you need as soon as possible.
4. Talk About Almost Anything
If you're not sure whether or not your concerns fall into what's covered by the telehealth services, you'd be surprised.
You can get help with illnesses or injuries that require medical care. If you're trying to figure out whether or not your injury falls under this umbrella, all you have to do is ask. If an issue persists or you can't seem to figure out whether you've got a chronic issue, they can help.
If you have food issues, eating disorder-related problems, or something connected to mental illness, a telehealth nurse can deal with all of these things. Depression, teen health, or even suicidal thoughts can be addressed by these nurses.
New mothers who are concerned with breastfeeding or infant health can call to ensure that they get the help that they need. For refugees and people emigrated from abroad, there are services to help support good health. If you're in Canada, no matter your condition, status, or national origin, telehealth is there to help.
A Health Insurance Hotline Has A Lot of Value
When you use the country's health insurance hotline tools, you get the best of what Canada has to offer. With nurses available around the clock, you'll never have to worry about that sinking feeling that you might have something. Call and find out now.
If you want to learn more about basic healthcare services in Canada, check out our latest guide.
