Samantha Walsh
Samantha Walsh has lived with type 1 diabetes for over five years since 2017. After her T1D diagnosis, she was eager to give back to the diabetes community. She is the Community and Partner Manager for T1D Exchange and helps to manage the Online Community and recruit for the T1D Exchange Registry. Prior to T1D Exchange, Samantha fundraised at Joslin Diabetes Center. She graduated from the University of Massachusetts with a Bachelors degree in sociology and early childhood education.
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Do you prefer to have your endocrinologist appointments in-person or virtually? Cancel reply
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I chose “other” because I’ve only had in person appointments and have never tried a virtual appointment. So, I’m not sure if I would like them or not.
I prefer virtual because my endo is in the city an hour and half from home and I hate the commute!! I see my GP regularly so there really isn’t any need to travel, virtual works well.
She prefers in person which wasn’t a good option my first appointment. I will go with her preference though I like Virtual when possible.
I have not had any virtual appointments, but I would be happy to as long as in person appointments were available on request if I was having a problem that needed to be addressed in the office.
Hybrid of both for me! I always like our August appointment in person because I will have had my annual blood work done before and I like to go over that in person. I also like in-person when I have some problems that I like to discuss at length. Since I’m gone for four months each winter, the virtual truly is perfect for me then and when it’s a routing four month check-in, virtual works just fine.
Prefer to have all of my vitals done and a general check over. I love my endocrinologist, only problem is she is sooooo busy. Wish her PA’s “bedside manner” was even half my endo’s. She’s good at her job but I think it’s a job, not a passion.
It depends on which kind of appointment is we are talking about.
if we’re taking a sample or something that involves me directly the I need to be there or at least somewhere where the test can be run and the data recorded otherwise, a virtual meeting will do.
I chose the hybrid. I’ve been seeing my Endo virtually only for the past year and a half. Fire v the most part that works fine for reviewing my A1C and pump/CGM downloads. Probably best to see in person at least once annually for vitals, feet and thyroid check.
I am on Prolia for osteoporosis and my endo NP and RN bring it along every 6 months to my apts. in my hometown. It saves me driving over any hour away, so I only have had “in person” apts.
It doesn’t really matter to me, as long as I have an appointment. My endo is the best of all my doctor’s on the virtual appointments, sharing her screen to go my Dexcom and tSlim uploads.
I prefer virtual. It’s just me an the Endo. The nurses and med asst’s at the practice I have to use are rather snarky and there is some travel hassle to get there. I am really disciplined about having labs doen -usually a week or so before the appt so the data is there for any discussion (and I also havve received the results). I basically see the Endo for Rx renewal anyway.
I prefer in-person because the clinic uses a specific platform for virtual appointments that I find difficult to use.
I think it depends on much interaction is likely. My Endo seems to like to see me every 3 months, probably because it’s my first year as T1. However, if appts continue to be “you’re doing fine” vice actual discussion of a topic, then telemedicine would be OK. I also think telemedicine should be at reduced cost; if I’m not getting weighed/height, preliminary discussion with a nurse and not using the office, why should I or my insurance be paying for a lot of office space and staff?
I have done both in-person and remote. I prefer in-person, but that is only my personal preference. My doctor was excellent via electronic interface as well.
Although I prefer in person sometimes I need a virtual, which I was doing before the pandemic even because I happened to be not at home in my hometown. It was always planned ahead of time.
Oddly enough, the clinic my endo operates out of presently does not accept virtual visits which I will have to ask about when I go on Wed. because I will need a virtual visit in January.
Call me a skeptic, but I don’t feel the communication, the give and take, is anywhere near the level one receives when meeting in person. So my choice remains with ‘in-person’.
We dId OK virtually, but I still prefer in person. He prints out my dexcom charts which we discuss. The office is an easy 15 minute drive so that is not an issue for me. Thank goodness.
prefer both. commute is 90 minutes round trip and $5 tolls plus $6 to park
I prefer in person with the list of specialist providers I see – endocrinologist, podiatrist, cardiologist, ophthalmologist, chiropractor, dentist. I generally only see the primary care provider in person once or twice a year: for an obligatory yearly physical visit, and every 6 months for a Prolia shot. Everything else she and her staff handle virtually or by phone contact. I get my annual flu vaccine at CVS, and the COVID vaccines are given at the local hospital.
I said in person but it all depends on what is happening in the world. These days, nothing is predictable.
I started seeing a new endo virtually because I couldn’t find any worth seeing on my side of the state. I imagine I’d like to go there at some point for an in person appointment, but she’s already helped me a lot with only virtual visits. I have local specialists for the things I can’t do virtually, like checking my eyes, but virtual for my endo has worked out so much better for me.
Plus, no drive time, no waiting in the waiting room, no waiting in the exam room, no paperwork afterward. I just sit down at my computer, have my session, and get up and leave. Love it!
ALWAYS IN PERSON!!! Many unplanned discussions take place as a result of personal visits.
I chose in person as I have yet to do a virtual appointment with for Endocrinology. I think it works better in person than some other visits I have done virtually.
If teleportation was part of virtual, of course I would choose hybrid.
I prefer in-person visits as neuropathy tests on my toes and check on heartbeat,etc. is done during my appointment. I would be happy to virtual appointments though.