Residents of the UP and northern Wisconsin can get high-quality healthcare thanks to a few practical hacks, even if they live in rural, nearly inaccessible areas. However, it takes a bit of creativity to gain access to top-notch medical care and wellness services when you don’t live in or near a big city. What are the smartest ways to get medication management, a review of vital signs, or a doctor visit from home or a nearby clinic?
For starters, plan around the bad weather months of the year, finance dental work over time, and keep good records of your medications and medical records. Connect with traveling specialists who visit regional hubs and leverage the power of remote monitoring to keep track of chronic conditions no matter where you happen to be. Finally, keep travel to a bare minimum by making telehealth visits whenever possible. The details below explain how residents of Northwoods and Upper Peninsula Michigan can get started, optimize care, and stretch healthcare dollars for the very best results.
Plan Around Bad Weather Windows
How can those who live in Northern Wisconsin and UP Michigan plan around bad weather windows to get the wellness services they need from specialists and general physicians? They should start by making appointments when roads are known to be safe and clinics are open during regular business hours. Create a year-round calendar that highlights heavy snowfall, winter storms, and spring thaw periods.
Then, schedule labs and imaging facilities on days with good weather conditions. Do follow ups in nearby regional hubs during months with milder conditions. Always try to combine multiple appointments into single trips to minimize your chance of having to deal with impassable or closed roads. During bad weather months, schedule telehealth visits to maintain good continuity with your providers.
Be proactive by confirming and double checking all your transportation options and referral timelines before winter conditions set in. That way, you’ll always enjoy uninterrupted access to the services and procedures you require most. Planning is the secret ingredient for those who live far from metropolitan areas but want to maximize their well-being all year long.
Finance Dental Work
If you live in a rural part of Michigan’s UP or the Northern Wisconsin region known as Northwoods, it makes sense to finance dental work and pay in affordable monthly installments. Providers can help you combine visits to minimize driving during the winter months, but the main idea of financing is to split large dental bills into manageable payments. That way, your money travels further, and you don’t need to wait to get treated.
With no large upfront costs and have predictable payment schedules, dental care doesn’t strain monthly budgets. Plus, applying has no effect on credit scores and takes just a few seconds in most cases. UP and Wisconsin residents should call their favorite dental professional’s office for the practice’s unique online application link or just grab it from an internet search. Financing solutions give patients quick treatment and peace of mind, which is what modern dental care is all about.
Work with Traveling Specialists
For UP Michigan and Northern Wisconsin patients who want to stay in top physical shape, it’s essential to connect with traveling specialists. These professionals visit regional hubs on a rotating annual schedule, either alone or as a part of larger mobile wellness teams. They bring their expertise in orthopedics, endocrinology, cardiology, and other fields to clinics and community centers far from metro areas. That means no long drives for people in need of medical attention.
To get the most out of a traveling specialist, create a plan with your primary provider and identify which specialists visit your area and when. After that, schedule coordinated meetings, tests, imaging, and follow-up visits. Don’t forget to bring a digital or hard copy of your records, test results, and list of current medications to every appointment. As noted below, telehealth visits are the ideal supplement for anyone who lives far from a large city.
Connect with Remote Monitoring
How do rural Michigan and Northwoods patients overcome their distance from the big cities when they need medical treatment? One part of the solution is remote monitoring. Typically used in conjunction with telehealth, remote monitoring uses devices like glucometers, blood pressure cuffs, pulse oximeters, and other wearables to gather real-time data from children and adults.
All the data travels via secure hookup as clinicians review to spot trends, flag concerns, and adjust medications. To get started, speak with your wellness team about which devices you require and what data sharing platforms are available. Then, set up a detailed monitoring plan with target ranges, alerts, and scheduled checks of vital statistics.
A solid internet connection is a must, but a strong cellular enabled device can also get the job done. Remember to keep a list of current medications on hand and know your personal history of allergies. As noted below, many people combine telehealth visits with remote monitoring for timely diagnosis and treatment, even if you can’t get far from home during inclement weather.
Use Telehealth Whenever Possible
Northern Wisconsinites and individuals in UP Michigan can and should leverage the power of modern telehealth for most of their wellness needs. The beauty of telehealth, which grew in popularity during the pandemic of 2020, is that it enables virtual visits with primary care doctors, specialists, and behavioral professionals from your own home or rural clinics. So, instead of long drives and delays for routine treatments and exams, patients use convenient video visits for things like medication management, preventive care planning, disease monitoring, and routine check-ins with physicians.
If there’s a need for imaging or lab work, professionals can easily coordinate with facilities near the patients’ homes and share results via electronic data transfer. What do you need to make it all work? Start with a reliable internet connection, a small room or nook for privacy, and a high-quality camera microphone. Nowadays, most clinics that service isolated regions offer asynchronous messaging and secure, user-friendly patient portals that streamline care. As long as you’re set up properly, telehealth can connect you with wellness professionals anywhere in the US.
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