By: Barb Hailey

During the height of COVID-19 last year, telehealth emerged as a critical resource for healthcare delivery. But even outside of the peaks and valleys of the pandemic, telehealth continues to be a secure and convenient option for busy people to stay on top of their health, without scheduling an in-person visit for a variety of urgent care needs.

Now, NorthShore has partnered with TytoCare to offer you a much more enhanced telehealth experience. By purchasing your own medical exam kit, you can now give your care provider real-time physical exam data through a set of easy-to-use, handheld diagnostic tools connected to your smartphone, tablet or computer. And it’s all done from the safety, comfort and convenience of your home!

Turnkey Technology

But how much does it cost? A TytoCare kit retails for $299.99. While not covered by health insurance, it is Health Savings Account (HSA)/Flexible Spending Account (FSA) eligible. Once purchased, you can:

• Send heart and lung sounds, or ear and throat pictures in real time directly from your smart device to your care team.
• Get a more complete diagnosis and treatment plan—including prescriptions—without leaving home.
• Consult virtually with immediate care and pediatric providers initially, with plans to expand to primary and specialty care services.

“The integrity of the exam is very high quality,” explained NorthShore Family Medicine Physician Nadim Ilbawi, MD. “The real-time information provides crisp images and sound quality equal to those at an in-person doctor visit. The fact that we can transmit this information from the home is impressive, and it opens a lot of doors for convenient, yet thorough treatment.”

A Dream for Busy Parents

Consider this. After your initial investment, TytoCare:

• Makes life easier for working moms, dads and caregivers, who otherwise might have to leave work or rearrange schedules.
• Eliminates travel time to office visits or scheduling last-minute child care for siblings.
• Provides quick diagnoses such as a suspected ear infection in a child, with any needed prescriptions ordered right away.
• Offers faster relief for your ailing loved one—children, adults and senior parents.

Peace of Mind

NorthShore enhanced telehealth powered by TytoCare provides on-demand access from the comfort and safety of your home. The most commonly treated conditions include:

• Allergies
• Animal/insect bite
• Asthma
• Burns (minor)
• Cold, congestion
• Ear infection
• Eye injuries
• Fever
• Flu
• Pink eye
• Rash
• Sinus problems
• Skin issues (minor irritations like, poison ivy/oak, dermatitis)
• Sore throat

“It’s not meant to replace yearly exams,” added Dr. Ilbawi, “Rather, it’s a way to help our patients manage their personal health in a more robust way when an urgent need arises.”