You were already struggling to find enough hours in the day to complete your to-do list when — Wham! You or one of your children is sick. Now, you need to squeeze a doctor's appointment into your already packed schedule.

This is just one example, but when faced with obstacles like this, an online doctor not only provides high-quality, focused, and efficient health care, but may help someone reclaim their day by saving time. Here's how.

On-demand visits give you instant access to care

When you're sick, you don't feel like going through the hassle of:

• Scheduling.
• Waiting.
• Traveling to and from the doctor's office.

You want to see someone now, and continue with your day. This is where you can save time by completing a "walk-in" online doctor visit instead.

You can speak with a doctor in as little as 10 minutes. A HealthTap online doctor is ready to see you now.

You have access to HealthTap's Symptom Checker

Sometimes, when you feel sick, you ask yourself, "Do I need to see a doctor, or will it pass?" Seeing a doctor when you don't need to is not the best way to save time.

You want to go into your online doctor visit informed about your symptoms. That way, you'll know the right questions to ask, saving time.

When in doubt, HealthTap members have access to HealthTap's Symptom Checker. It uses proprietary artificial intelligence to understand your symptoms in context. That way, it can suggest likely causes and possible treatments.

Have your questions answered quickly on HealthTap

According to Pew Research, 81 percent of U.S adults use the Internet. Of those, 72 percent say they look up health information online. If you are among that number, wouldn't you want to get your information from a real medical doctor?

With HealthTap, you get instant access to a free informational Q&A. Here, doctors in the HealthTap Doctor Network answer HealthTap members' questions.

After removing any identifying information, questions and answers from HealthTap members are made available for all subscribers to access and learn from quickly. If you have a question about a symptom, cause, treatment, or other health-related issue, chances are someone else in the HealthTap community does too.

In fact, someone may have asked your question before. You can search for millions of potentially relevant questions and answers before asking a question to the HealthTap Doctor Network.

Now, when you meet with your HealthTap online doctor, you save time. Your visit runs more smoothly because you've already had some of your questions answered.

Get an online doctor's note

When you feel awful, all you want to do is sleep. But you often need an online doctor's note for school or work if you need to stay home and recover. 

Alternatively, maybe your child is the sick one. The last thing you want to do is force them out of the house when they don't feel well. However, without an online doctor's note, they'll have an unexcused absence, but a car ride to physically see a doctor would be miserable right now.

On top of that, you may have to take off work even though you know you're not contagious. Seeking care the traditional way can be frustrating and can waste your time.

You have another option. You can see an online doctor from the comfort of your home or wherever you are on a smartphone or mobile device. Receive virtual healthcare in the form of a video visit as a HealthTap member.

Skip the waiting room

If the doctor determines your medical issue can be treated virtually, you can avoid the unnecessary step of traveling to a doctor's office, waiting in the waiting room and then having to see your doctor in-person. You could wait a long time to see the doctor in a traditional setting, especially for a walk-in appointment.

However, when you visit an online doctor as a walk-in, you don't have to leave your house and you have minimal wait time. You can get in and out and back to your day.

Online doctors make online prescriptions easy

If your online doctor determines that you need medication, they can write an online prescription for you. They'll send it to your local pharmacy of choice for pickup — usually in just a couple of hours. Picking your medication up may be as easy as driving to your pharmacy's drive-thru window.

Attend an online doctor visit from anywhere

Sometimes the unthinkable happens while you're on vacation, visiting your in-laws, or traveling in another state. You suddenly find yourself faced with an urgent medical need like one of the following:

• You forgot to pack a medication you shouldn't skip.
• You've just realized you may have a bladder infection.
• You might have contracted COVID-19 on your flight.

If you were addressing this the non–HealthTap way, this scenario could mean:

• Trying to get your regular doctor on the phone.
• Spending hours in urgent care or the emergency room.
• Waiting hours in a waiting room as a walk-in.
• Setting up an appointment with a local doctor- which could take days or weeks.

Anyone would rather enjoy that time with their family instead of worrying about whether they can get the health care they need in time.

For any medical issues that can be managed by an online doctor, you can avoid all of this by signing up to become a HealthTap member. You can join a community of patients who are saving time by choosing high-quality virtual health care from HealthTap.

Save time on follow-up care

When you find a convenient and time-saving way to follow up with your doctor, you may be more likely to do so. That's according to a recent study by the University of Pennsylvania.

The study found that follow-up rates rise when patients have the option to receive virtual care. The rise was most noticeable among black patients — a group that has historically had a lower follow-up rate in the United States.

It's so much easier and more efficient to follow up with a doctor when you can do so from anywhere.

Your HealthTap personal care physician is ready to see you

As a HealthTap member, you have fast access to high-quality, personalized virtual care. You've found a convenient way to save time next time you need to see a doctor for a doctor's note, sick child, unexpected health care need, and more. Give HealthTap a try.

Connect with a HealthTap doctor now.