With current limitations on social gathering and community risk for spreading infection, we are working to expand our ability to meet the patient’s needs without a visit to the office. Depending on the needs of the patient this may be coordinated by our triage nurses on the phone, a phone visit with a provider, or a video visit with a provider. During that assessment, if any additional evaluation or testing is needed we will work to arrange that at the office or wherever appropriate.
How to Prepare for a Virtual Telehealth Visit:
We understand that the steps below may not be possible for all patients. We ask that families simply do their best to help our providers care for your child.
- Log in and test your audio and video capabilities prior to the appointment. For instructions on how to do this, and how to turn these on once you have “joined” your appointment, see the Zoom help page. If you have concerns about the audiovisual quality on your computer or tablet, we recommend downloading the app, Zoom Cloud Meetings on your mobile device and using this for your visit.
- Find a quiet, well-lit space for the appointment
- For all visits (especially medication checks):
- Weigh your child within 3 days of the appointment and be able to provide that information
- Gather all of your child’s current medications and have them available during the visit
- For sick visits- check your child’s temperature within 1 hour of the visit and be ready to provide that information
- Dress your child in loose clothing or easily-removed tops in case our providers need to assess the effort of your breathing
At your scheduled meeting time go to join.zoom.us and put in the meeting id name you were given. If you’ve already downloaded the software, after launching the software choose “join meeting” option and enter the meeting id there. This will be given to you when you schedule or when provider calls you at appointment time to help you get started. First, you will be in a waiting room and once the provider is available will admit you into the video visit. To maintain the privacy of your conversation be aware of who is around you during the visit.
Video visits are billed in the same way as an office visit would be. Charges will vary based on the duration and complexity of the visit. If your health plan covers office visits then it would cover the video visits. There may be a copay or the visit may apply to your deductible depending on your health plan in the same way as a visit in the office would, though we are hearing that some health plans are waiving copays for video visits.
Phone calls with a provider may also incur a charge. At this time we are aware that Medicaid and most commercial plans are covering the cost of these visits, some only for the duration of the Covid emergency declaration.
Updated 3/26/2020