Telemedicine
Telemedicine is the distribution of health-related services and information via electronic information and telecommunication technologies. Telemedicine enables remote healthcare (telehealth).
In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, Boone Memorial Hospital is offering telemedicine in an effort to continue keeping its patients safe, while providing health services.
Telemedicine makes it possible for providers to treat patients whenever needed and wherever the patient is, by using a computer or smartphone. Based on current legislation, at this time, telemedicine will only be offered at Boone Memorial during the COVID-19 Pandemic.
Telemedicine is a safe and secure service, which will be offered through Doxy.me.
Doxy.me is a cloud-based electronic medical records (EMR) and telemedicine, which is HIPAA-compliant, and Android and iOS apps are available for mobile devices. Doxy.me allows patients to start sessions by clicking on a URL (also known as a web address) shared via email or SMS (Short Message Service).
THINGS YOU SHOULD KNOW:
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Currently, BMH providers, Amy Sayre, MD, Howard Wesley Lafferty Jr., D.O., Richard Wayne Knapp Jr., MD and Deborah Townsley, FNP will offer telemedicine services to ANY PATIENT ALREADY ESTABLISHED at a BMH Clinic. This includes patients who have only been seen in the Family Medical Center Walk-In Clinic. Even if someone is not currently a patient of one of the four providers listed above, they will still accept a patient via telemedicine during the COVID-19 pandemic, as long as the person has been seen previously in one of the Boone Memorial Hospital Clinics.
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BMH Providers are still accepting new patients. However, NEW PRIMARY CARE PATIENTS should be physically present for an initial appointment with a provider at one of the Boone Memorial Hospital Clinics before utilizing telemedicine services.
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BMH Specialists, Dr. Melissa Moody (Psychiatry), Dr. Shane Cook (Dermatology) and Dr. Charles Crigger (Ear, Nose & Throat) are currently seeing new and established patients, as previously scheduled, and have telemedicine capability during the COVID-19 pandemic for patients unable to attend visits. In most cases, a face-to-face physical assessment prior to telemedicine is not required.
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Dr. Casey Hager (Cardiology) will offer follow-up appointments via telemedicine services ONLY TO HIS ALREADY ESTABLISHED PATIENTS.
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Patients are still welcome to come in and see their provider, if able. If a patient is unable to come in for a face-to-face visit, then telemedicine is a great alternative.
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The walk-in clinic portion of the Family Medical Center (FMC) has reopened. It is located on the first floor of the FMC. Clinic hours of operation are 8AM - 6PM, seven days a week. To ensure patient safety, sick patients will be separated from well patients upon arrival to the clinic, until further notice and CDC COVID-19 screenings and guidelines are still in place.
TECHNOLOGY REQUIREMENTS:
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A phone, computer, or tablet with access to a camera and microphone are preferred to initiate face-to-face video calling.
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Once a telemedicine visit is scheduled, the patient will receive a link, which will allow them to check into the physician's waiting room to conduct their appointment.
“We understand this is a new service and one that may be foreign to some. However, we are here to make the experience an easy one. Our goal is to keep our patients healthy throughout this epidemic and we will continue to think outside the box to make programs like telemedicine available to our patients."
Virgil Underwood
Chief Executive Officer
Contact:
The BMH Call Center is ready to guide patients through the simple process. Patients should call Boone Memorial during clinic hours, Monday-Friday between 8am – 4pm to schedule a telemedicine appointment.
Phone: 304.369.1230