The internet has taken over our lives. We have meetings on Zoom, do our banking online and even file our tax returns electronically. It’s hardly any wonder that health care has embraced telemedicine.

Some people love it, and some people hate it. One reader described her positive experience with an online physician.

“I developed a urinary tract infection last year while I was out of town and not near an emergency center where I could see a doctor. I pulled up Doctor on Demand on my phone, explained my symptoms (which were the usual urgency and burning pain when urinating) and was put onto a FaceTime with a board-certified gynecologist.

“After a 30-minute conversation discussing everything from my age to medication allergies, she prescribed an antibiotic. She even told me to start taking a probiotic along with the Keflex. Within one day, I was better and able to enjoy the rest of our trip.

“Fast forward to last week, one year from that first UTI. I had the same symptoms, so I went to my gynecologist who took a specimen. That turned out to be negative. They said they would not prescribe anything for my symptoms because the test was negative. My urine specimen showed no infection.

“Four days later, I had blood in my urine. The doctor didn’t believe it could be an infection because the urine was clear four days ago. However, I insisted on a quick in / out catheterization, and sure enough, the urine showed blood due to infection. I was put on an antibiotic. My urine has cleared up and I have no more symptoms. But I practically had to fight my doctor to convince him I needed more attention! I have learned so much from The People’s Pharmacy about advocating for myself.”

Another reader offered this perspective: “My doctor and I have been doing this for several years: When I have an issue I can’t adequately describe, I take a picture with my iPhone and email it to him with an accompanying narrative. A while back when I was in the office, he said, ‘You know, we are practicing telemedicine.'”

Another person likes the idea of home visits via computer. Part of that is due to dissatisfaction with in-person office visits.

“Most doctors spend your visit looking at a computer screen anyway. I don’t need to be in front of them for that. I can answer questions, and they can input data with me sitting in my comfortable chair at home. I can take my temperature and heart rate and even check my blood pressure at home with minimal monetary investment.”

Not everyone is enthusiastic about telemedicine, though. Here is a different viewpoint. “THUMBS DOWN! In my opinion, so-called ‘tele-medicine’ is a horrible scam on the public! You get no personal face-to-face interaction with the caregiver, who may not even be an actual M.D. They can’t take vital signs or blood pressure, and you have no opportunity to discuss other ailments. Instead, I see big benefits for corporate medicine and big pharma. They have less real estate and office space to be maintained and paid for. Plus, they can ‘see’ more patients in a shorter time.”

Many patients like the convenience of at-home visits using a computer. But there are situations when a hands-on physical examination is essential. Finding the right balance between historical healing traditions and instantaneous computerized connections is the challenge.

In their column, Joe and Teresa Graedon answer letters from readers. Write to them in care of King Features, 628 Virginia Drive, Orlando, FL 32803, or email them via their website: www.PeoplesPharmacy.com.