3 Reasons to Choose a Hawaii-Licensed, Hawaii-Located Physician for In-State Telemedicine

1. Telemedicine can easily treat many common conditions

Many large telemedicine providers offer online care services to people living in or visiting Hawaii, but most of the time those doctors are not physically located in Hawaii. Access to an in-state doctor is especially important because there are many specific conditions and diseases that are much more common in Hawaii than on the mainland. Evolving over 70 million years ago in near complete isolation, over 90% of the state’s native flora is found only on the Hawaiian Islands. Hawaii is home to plants, animals, and foods that do not exist in other parts of the world or are extremely rare. For example, if a visitor hiking to Hawaii Volcano National Park touches a nettle plant and then experiences an allergic skin reaction, a mainland doctor could easily conclude that it is an insect bite, a rash due to heat or other topical problem.

Misdiagnosis of the problem can lead to additional health problems for the patient, such as fever, the spread of the rash, or even more serious illnesses and infections of the staff. Seeing a Hawaii-based doctor online can increase the likelihood of a correct diagnosis because the doctor is more likely to be aware of skin conditions caused by native species.

two. understanding the jargon

Many local residents speak pidgin, a special dialect of English that originated on the sugar cane plantations of Hawaii. Examples, “Shoot brah we go cruising when pau hana”, which means “Let’s hang out when you’re not working”. Prayed, “Ho deez grinds broke da mut”, which means “This food tastes delicious.” A doctor who does not live in Hawaii could easily misinterpret what the patient is saying, which could create problems with diagnosing the patient’s medical condition. Choosing a physician who is licensed in Hawaii and located in Hawaii ensures that the patient and physician literally speak the same language. This increases the probability of a correct diagnosis in the early stages.

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Finally, seeing a Hawaii-based doctor online can help with prescription fulfillment or future patient care needs. After a telemedicine appointment concludes, the doctor will ask the patient which pharmacy they would like to pick up the medications from. In Hawaii, many streets have Hawaiian names that are difficult for a doctor not living in Hawaii to spell or identify because they sound so similar, eg. waipio pours waipahu. A physician located in Hawaii will be able to quickly identify where the patient’s closest pharmacy is to ensure the medication gets there as quickly as possible. In addition to pharmacy locations, if the physician determines that the patient may require in-person medical care, he or she may recommend a local primary care physician, specialist, or more urgent care for follow-up. For critical situations, a physician located in Hawaii can recommend the local hospital best equipped to address the patient’s medical conditions.

For immediate diagnosis and treatment, having access to a doctor from wherever you are via telemedicine offers potentially life-saving benefits. But whether you live in or travel to Hawaii, you don’t have to settle for a doctor that could be anywhere when you can access a doctor located in Hawaii.