We don’t like to think about it, but germs are literally everywhere we go. We pick them up by touching door handles, gas pumps, credit and debit card readers, hand railings—and those are just the obvious places. What about everything you touch afterward?

Seeking medical care can make us feel vulnerable in more ways than one. We let our family doctors see us at our worst, so we can get back to feeling our best quickly. There’s no question that seeing a familiar face in our weakest moments is a comforting feeling.

But there are times when seeing a medical professional in-person isn’t ideal. When you need treatment for seasonal allergies, a sinus infection or nausea and the waiting room is crowded with flu patients, putting as much space between yourself and contagious illnesses is simply smart self-care.

Sometimes your medical needs don’t require you to visit a doctor in their office. Runny noses, cough, fever and much more can be treated over a mobile phone.

Nearly three-quarters of all doctor and urgent care visits could be handled safely and effectively via telehealth solutions without visiting a clinic, according to a 2015 American Medical Association study.

With telemedicine, you can have a video chat with a nurse practitioner or another qualified medical professional to diagnose and treat an array of illnesses.

In an age when you can do practically anything from a mobile phone, telemedicine over a mobile connection is becoming a popular way to seek medical care.

Nearly three-quarters of all doctor and urgent care visits could be handled safely and effectively via telehealth solutions without visiting a clinic, according to a 2015 American Medical Association study.

Through the C Spire Health app, you can get quick, convenient, minor medical care from a University of Mississippi Medical Center provider anywhere in Mississippi.

In this video, UMMC nurse practitioner Kristi Goodson discusses how to prepare for your first telehealth visit using C Spire Health and what to expect during your video chat appointment.