Many of us are comfortable with doing everything online – from ordering meals to even buying a house. But one thing you shouldn’t do online is order GLP-1 medications. Because the healthcare industry has undergone significant changes in recent years – especially during the COVID-19 pandemic – some practices that have become acceptable can put your health at risk, with no accountability to you should something go wrong.
Case in point: Direct-to-consumer (DTC) telehealth companies that provide prescription medications for conditions ranging from hair loss to sexual health – and have now added GLP-1 weight loss medications to their roster.
What is a Direct-to-Consumer Telehealth Company?
This is an industry designation for any online-based company that offers prescription medications directly to consumers without requiring an in-person appointment with a physician.
When used as originally intended, telehealth helps to serve people who can’t easily visit their healthcare provider in person. DTC telehealth companies, on the other hand, basically exist to write and/or fill prescriptions on demand for their subscribers. If you’re beginning to see some potential problems with this, Missouri Medicine – The Journal of the Missouri State Medical Association – spells them out as follows:
“Direct-to-consumer (DTC) telemedicine is increasingly popular and enables patients to obtain medical advice and treatment via electronic media (e.g., computer, telephone, or smartphone) without a prior doctor-patient relationship. Convenience, accessibility, and home delivery make DTC telemedicine attractive to patients. Concerns about DTC telemedicine include: a lack of regulation, transparency, and an established patient-provider relationship (physician and pharmacist).”
Issues with DTC Telehealth Companies
So what could go wrong? As reported by Natasha Singer and Katie Thomas in their article for The New York Times – Drug Sites Upend Doctor-Patient Relations: ‘It’s Restaurant-Menu Medicine’ – “The sites invert the usual practice of medicine by turning the act of prescribing drugs into a service. Instead of doctors making diagnoses and then suggesting treatments, patients request drugs and physicians serve largely as gatekeepers.
“Some of these companies operate in a regulatory vacuum that could increase public health risks, according to interviews with physicians, former federal health regulators and legal experts. And federal and state health laws, written to ensure competent medical care and drug safety, have not kept pace with online services, they say.”
To this point, most people don’t know that there is no single federal or state agency in charge of overseeing DTC services. These companies describe themselves as tech platforms, not health providers – giving them a legal excuse to avoid responsibility should you experience an adverse reaction or bad outcome. In plain language, you won’t be able to sue them. Protection for consumers is minimal or non-existent.
The lack of a one-on-one, in-person doctor-patient relationship is another serious drawback. Such companies may offer an online consultation with a doctor, but the doctor is affiliated with the company. If you can choose the doctor for your video conference, you’ll only be able to choose from those within its network. Some companies let you skip even this step, allowing you to order GLP-1 medications (as well as any other medications the company offers) simply by answering a brief questionnaire and/or filling out a form.
Why You Need a One-on-One Doctor-Patient Relationship for Your Medical Weight Loss Journey
Medical weight loss treatment is, after all, medical treatment that needs to be in the hands of an experienced, licensed physician. William E. Newsome, M.D., is Medical Director and co-owner of Solutions Weight Loss. Instead of filling out an online form, you’ll have an in-person consultation with Dr. Newsome. During your first appointment, he will measure your body mass index (BMI), take your vital signs (body temperature, pulse rate, respiratory rate and blood pressure) and talk with you about your medical history to learn about any health conditions you’ve had or currently have.
Of course, during this appointment, Dr. Newsome will have an in-depth conversation with you about your weight loss goals. If you feel frustrated by the lack of results and setbacks from previous weight loss programs you’ve tried, Dr. Newsome has been where you are – and knows that losing excess weight is a difficult and emotional process.
Based upon your consultation, Dr. Newsome will evaluate and prescribe for you the best GLP-1 medication treatment plan to achieve your goals. We offer high-quality, safe and affordable, compounded GLP-1 medications like semaglutide and tirzepatide – which you probably know under brand names like Wegovy®, Ozempic®, Zepbound®, or Mounjaro®. Research shows that when combined with one-on-one physician coaching, low-calorie diet and lifestyle changes, they are the safest and most effective approach to achieve sustainable weight loss.
Because we prescribe, compound and dispense these medications, shortages of the brand-name drugs will never affect your access. In fact, you can leave our office with your medication the same day – offering you both confidence in the quality of your GLP-1 medication AND convenience that DTC telehealth services can’t match! Moreover, we understand that people have busy schedules that may not allow them to visit our office on a weekly basis. That’s why we can dispense up to 12 weeks of your weight loss medication at a time.
Keeping in mind the importance of the doctor-patient relationship, Dr. Newsome and our entire Solutions Weight Loss team are with you on every step of your medical weight loss journey! You’ll never feel that you’re on your own, or have to deal with an impersonal online chat or text with whoever is working at the telehealth service at the time when you happen to have a question. You will know us, and we will know you – which allows us to give you the individual help and advice you need!
Our Proven Track Record in Getting Results for Our Patients
Solutions Weight Loss internal results prove our medically supervised program is effective at driving long-term improvements to metabolic health and weight loss, with an average of 21% weight loss at 12 months; 19.1% at 18 months, and 18.9% at 24 months. Our members have also decreased their waist circumference by 7 inches, on average. These results are superior to the weight loss seen in clinical trials for GLP-1 medications. Regardless of which medication they take, our members have demonstrated significant and sustained results!
Your weight loss goals – and your health – are too important to be left to a DTC telehealth company. A medical weight loss treatment plan provided and supervised by Dr. Newsome can help you achieve success in a safe, proven way, making sure you have all the support you need.
See what makes Solutions Weight Loss the #1 weight loss clinic in Florida! Schedule your consultation with Dr. Newsome here, or call 407-413-5503, and experience the benefits of today’s metabolic approach to sustainable weight loss! Don’t wait another day to start living your best life!
The post Why You Shouldn’t Order GLP-1 Medications Online first appeared on Solutions Weight Loss.
