It depends. Telehealth platforms like Sesame make it easier than ever to see a doctor online from the comfort of your home through virtual visits. These are real-time video chats with doctors and providers that are used to address symptoms, discuss prescriptions, and screen for health care conditions. Telehealth (also known as telemedicine) is a convenient way to see a health care provider without requiring the commute and waiting rooms of office visits.

In-person visits, however, are vital health services. Certain conditions and specialty care services cannot be diagnosed or performed via a telehealth visit. Lab testing, for instance, often requires an in-person appointment at a doctor's office. Similarly, some physical exams, chronic condition consultations, and urgent care needs require in-person care. Some patients feel more comfortable receiving their care through in-person doctor visits, and many telehealth services require in-person visits before a condition can be definitively diagnosed.

Health care marketplaces like Sesame offer both in-person and virtual care options. If you're unsure whether or not you need to see a provider face-to-face, we recommend that you book a video doctor visit to discuss your concerns and talk through any symptoms you may be experiencing. If an in-person doctor appointment is required, you can easily book a visit through Sesame's scheduling platform.

Urgent care allows you to check in with a doctor about a non-life-threatening condition. Addressing a condition or symptom early can help your doctor craft a treatment plan that works for you and addresses your symptoms. Urgent care is suitable for conditions that, while uncomfortable, do not require emergency room care.

If you're experiencing a life-threatening condition, call 911 immediately. Urgent care is not appropriate for life-threatening symptoms.

Speak with a licensed urgent care doctor on Sesame today for a simple, upfront, cash price - with no unexpected charges or copays.

If you're experiencing a medical emergency or any life-threatening symptoms or conditions, you call 911 immediately or visit the emergency room or emergency department of a local clinic as soon as possible.

If you have an urgent need for a non-life-threatening condition, you should be able to address your concerns through an urgent care visit. Note that on Sesame, urgent care visits may not necessarily be through a clinic that's part of the urgent care association or some kind of body that offers urgent care accreditation. Instead, our visits are always with quality board-certified doctors and providers who have experience treating and caring for patients.

If you are experiencing a medical emergency or life-threatening symptoms, call 911 immediately.

For relief from non-life-threatening conditions, you can walk into most urgent care clinics from about 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Walk-in clinics can be crowded, so you might experience long wait times.

Skip the wait by booking a video urgent care visit on Sesame. Simply find a doctor you want to see, compare prices, and pay an upfront price to schedule your appointment. On Sesame, you can find urgent healthcare services with doctors who specialize in family medicine, pediatrics, dermatology, and more. Many healthcare providers on Sesame offer appointments from 7 am - 12 am.

Yes, physicians on Sesame are able to prescribe a wide range of medications, which can be useful for infections, allergies and other acute ailments.

Please note that they will not prescribe certain drugs, such as narcotics or medications that have been designated controlled substances.

Otherwise, many of the prescriptions available in an office setting or urgent care can be prescribed if your physician deems it’s appropriate.

Gastroenterologists specialize in any conditions related to the digestive or gastrointestinal tracts, which encompass the esophagus, stomach, small intestine, colon, rectum, pancreas, gallbladder, bile ducts, and liver.

Your primary care provider may refer you to a gastroenterologist if you're experiencing abdominal pain, chronic diarrhea or constipation, heartburn, acid reflux, bloating, black bowel movements, rectal bleeding, sudden and unexplainable weight loss, having difficulty swallowing, and more.

Starting at the age of 50, it is recommended that you start getting screened routinely for rectal and colon cancer with an endoscopic procedure known as a colonoscopy.

Docusate is an over-the-counter medication used to treat constipation. It is a stool softener that makes it easier to pass bowel movements, helping to avoid straining that could be dangerous after a heart attack or surgery.

Constipation is a common condition that makes it difficult for you to pass stools, leading to discomfort and even pain.

Talk to your doctor about whether docusate could be right for your needs.

Docusate is used to treat constipation, a condition that occurs when bowel movements become less frequent and more strained. Many doctors define constipation as a period in which patients have fewer than 3 bowel movements over the course of a week.

Docusate is often given to patients to whom straining to pass bowel movements could be dangerous. These patietns have often just experienced a heart attack or undergone surgery.

Docusate can help soften your stool and alleviate bouts of constipation. An over-the-counter medication, docusate does not require a prescription.

While adverse reactions to docusate are uncommon, some patients who take the drug may experience mild side effects, including stomach pain, diarrhea, cramping, and throat irritation.

Rare, more serious adverse events have also been known to occur. If you are concerned that docusate may be causing you to experience any number of adverse side effects, please contact your doctor or seek emergency care.

This is not a complete list of docusate side effects. For more information on adverse reactions you may experience while taking docusate, please visit the National Institutes of Health’s DailyMed webpage.

Yes! Talk to a provider on Sesame and get your online doctor prescription or refill ordered right away for fast and convenient pickup from a pharmacy of your choice.

Note that all prescriptions are at the discretion of your clinician.