Healow Televisit

Patient Guide to Virtual Care

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During the Coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) recommends that doctor’s offices encourage their patients stay at home to avoid exposure to this virus, especially if you have risk factors like high blood pressure, diabetes, or lung disease. You might be wondering how you can access your doctor at this time for issues that you would usually see them in person. There is good news! Your doctor can now take care of you in the comfort of your own home through video or telephone.

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At Eagle Physicians, we want to do everything we can to keep you safe while making sure you receive the care you need. That’s why we are now offering virtual care options, which you can use from your own home.

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Telehealth? Telemedicine? What’s the difference?

Telehealth is different from telemedicine in that it refers to a broader scope of remote health care services than telemedicine. Telemedicine refers specifically to remote clinical services, while telehealth can refer to remote non-clinical services. Video visits and virtual care are other terms used to describe how doctors can take care of patients by using technology. By using computers, cell phones, and tablets, there are many ways for you to see and hear your doctor during a telemedicine visit.

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If you schedule an appointment to see your provider through a video visit, we will give you instructions about how to set up and log into your appointment. Co-pays and deductibles will apply for these visits.

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If your concern cannot be managed through a telemedicine visit, you may be asked to come into the office.

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What can your doctor do during a telemedicine visit?

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You may be surprised at how much your doctor can do during a telemedicine visit! Your doctor can listen to your health concerns, perform a physical exam, and treat many problems. Many common problems that would require a sick visit with your doctor can be treated using telemedicine, such as:

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• Colds, flu, fever, headaches, sore throat, or nasal congestion

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• Stomach viruses, constipation, or acid reflux

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• Rashes, pink eye, cold sores, bites, stings

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• Bladder infection

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Your doctor can also manage many chronic conditions using virtual care.
This includes:

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• Asthma, COPD and emphysema

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• Diabetes

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• High blood pressure and heart disease

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• Depression

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• Arthritis

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• Kidney disease

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If you have a concern about an urgent or chronic problem, please contact the office to schedule a telemedicine visit.

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Telephone-Only Visits

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We recognize that not all patients will have access to devices that allow for video connections with your doctor, so during the Coronavirus outbreak, we are offering telephone-only visits. Co-pays and deductibles will still apply for these visits. If you would like to schedule an appointment for a telephone visits, please contact the office to schedule an appointment. A telephone-only visit can occur on your mobile phone or landline.

Like video visits, if the doctor cannot manage your problem over the phone, you may be asked to come into the office.

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Patient Portal

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Our patient portal is a secure, private way for you and your doctor to send and receive information about your health. The patient portal helps you:

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• Communicate with your doctor or nurse and address semi-urgent and chronic health problems

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• Request medication refills

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• Review test results and summaries of past visits

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• Schedule visits or request visit reminders

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If you want to get set up to use the patient portal, we can help you. You can call your primary care office and speak with staff who guide you through the process.

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When you are using the patient portal to manage a health problem, co-pays and deductibles will apply.

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Some problems cannot be addressed through the patient portal, and your doctor may ask you to schedule a video visit or come into the office.

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Limited In-Person Visits

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Many problems can be managed virtually using a video visit, telephone-only visit, or through the patient portal, but if your doctor needs more information to manage your illness or injury, you may be referred to an in-person visit. In an effort to limit patient exposure to the virus, all Eagle Physicians clinics have worked together to create policies about how Eagle will see patients in the office for concerns that are not related to COVID-19.  Please note that no walk-in appointments will be accepted. Arrangements for an in-person visit must be made in advance by calling the office to answer some questions about your concern and health status.  Additionally, you will be screened for temperature and symptoms when you arrive at the office.  Similarly, all of our staff are screened daily.

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Things to Know For Your Upcoming Telehealth Visit

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During your virtual visit we ask that you:

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1.  Pretend you are in a face-to-face in person visit with your provider.

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2.  Give the provider your undivided attention.

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3.  Be sure that you are in a quiet, confidential place where you will not be interrupted.

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4.  If you are at work, be prepared to take a break when the call starts.

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5.  If you are driving, please pull over and be parked before the call starts.

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6.  Position yourself so that lighting allows your provider to see you. Try turning on overhead lights or closing blinds and             drapes to reduce background light.

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7.  Don’t sit too close to the camera (or too far away). Make sure your face is in the center of your picture (the small window         on your smartphone.) Sit eye-level with your camera.

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8.  Close other apps. Having too many apps running on your computer or device can make your device run slowly. Before             starting the visit, close all programs that you aren’t using during the visit.

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Taking these steps will improve the quality of your medical visit, which we intend to be as good as when we see you in person!