Winter shouldn’t interrupt your care

Eastern Idaho winters can make a short drive feel long. Snow-packed roads, wind across open stretches between towns, early darkness, and school closures all make it harder to get to appointments. For people managing depression, anxiety, or other mental health conditions, missed visits can add up, and consistency is a big part of what makes treatment work.

Pearl Health offers online video visits so you can keep your care going without traveling to an office. If you are already a patient, it is worth thinking now about how you will handle appointments once the weather turns.

What you need for a telehealth visit

Telehealth at Pearl Health is simple, and anyone can take part. A visit requires only an internet connection and a device with a camera, such as a laptop or smartphone. To set up a telehealth appointment, call our central scheduling line. If you have questions about getting connected, our team can help you through it before your first video visit.

You don’t need special software skills. If you can make a video call with family, you can almost certainly join a telehealth visit. It also saves time. There is no drive, no parking, and no waiting room, which can make it easier to fit an appointment into a workday or a lunch break.

Getting the most out of a video visit

• Find a private, quiet spot where you can talk openly, even if that means a parked car
• Test your connection, camera, and sound a few minutes early
• Charge your device or keep it plugged in during the visit
• Have your medication list and pharmacy information close by
• Jot down symptoms, questions, or changes since your last appointment
• Use headphones if other people are home

A little preparation keeps the conversation focused on you instead of on the technology. If the connection drops, don’t worry. Just try to reconnect or wait for the office to reach you.

When telehealth fits, and when it doesn’t

Video visits can be a good option for many ongoing appointments, and they are also handy during cold and flu season, when you are home with kids, or when your schedule is tight. Some services do need to happen in person, such as certain treatments and testing, so ask your provider which parts of your care can move online and which can’t.

Telehealth is also not meant for emergencies. If you are worried about your safety or someone else’s, reach out for immediate help rather than waiting for a scheduled visit.

If you are in crisis or having thoughts of suicide, call or text 988 to reach the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline. In an emergency, call 911 or go to the nearest emergency room.

Plan ahead for the season

Shorter days can affect mood, energy, and sleep, and many people notice symptoms creeping in during late fall. If that sounds familiar, don’t wait for things to get harder. Talk with your provider now about a plan for the coming months, including how often you will meet and which visits can happen by video. Having that plan in place before the first big storm means one less thing to worry about.

It also helps to keep up the basics that support mental health in winter: regular sleep and wake times, time outside in daylight when you can get it, staying connected with people you trust, and taking medications as prescribed. Your provider can help you build a plan that fits your needs.

Family members can help, too. If a parent, teen, or spouse depends on you for rides to appointments, a telehealth option can take pressure off everyone during bad weather.

Pearl Health serves patients from our clinics in Ammon, Idaho Falls, Pocatello, and Rexburg, and through telehealth across the region. Contact Pearl Health to schedule a video visit or to ask whether telehealth is a good fit for your care this winter.