At Olympic Internal Medicine, we are currently offering several virtual visit options to continue meeting the needs of our patients while simultaneously reducing the transmission risk of infectious diseases, including COVID-19. These virtual visit options do have their unique limitations based on insurance requirements. Below are the options and limitations:
- This is the closest to an actual office visit. By visually interacting with patients, we can accomplish most items that are normally addressed during a clinic visit. This includes, but is not limited to, routine follow-up; acute visits that do not require extensive physical examinations; requests for referrals or new medications; and in the future, establishing care. These visits require a face-to-face encounter between provider and patient to meet the insurance requirements, which we are now able to accomplish with anyone who has access to a smartphone or a computer with camera and microphone. Learn more about our virtual visit options.
- Virtual Telephone (Online Digital Evaluation and Management Services). A primary insurance requirement is that patients are already established in the practice. Several visit types are included in this category, including the use of the telephone in certain circumstances and communications via the Internet Portal, but these are more restrictive than the telemedicine option. This option is designed to be more of a bridge to a regular clinic visit, not to replace one. This option is not available to new patients.
Please view the new section of our website or feel free to contact our office at any time for more information or assistance in accessing our services via these “virtual” options.