Virtual Office Visits

VIRTUAL OFFICE VISIT: allows the patient to receive medical advice and treatment for certain minor medical conditions without going into the office. A Virtual Office Visit is a medical consultation, provided online to the patient using secure technology. The patient will be able to complete a thorough patient history form focused on the patient's symptoms. The physician will review the information that the patient enters to provide specific medical advice and a treatment plan which may or may not include a prescription that can be called in or faxed to the patient's preferred pharmacy. The physician will securely communicate directions and instructions on the patient's treatment plan. Once the physician responds to a VOV, the patient will be notified via email that a secure message is waiting for the patient on the physician's website.  The patient securely logs into the physician's website and selects "My Messages" from the My Patient Page to view the response. This communication is HIPAA-compliant and replaces unnecessary repetitive phone tag. All information is encrypted, secure and subject to all patient/physician privilege laws. Only the physian's established patients (patients who have already been physically seen and examined at the doctors office) will be elligible for these services. Virtual office visits do not establish a doctor-patient relationship, and are not a substitute for a personal office visit. Online technology like this is endorsed by the American Medical Association.   Some health plans such as Aetna and Cigna are already covering virtual office visits.
Ahmad Saab MD