*UPDATE – We are no longer offering virtual visits, as they are no longer covered by insurance*
As you’re probably aware, we are now offering virtual visits to help see patients safely during the pandemic. Although it appears that we’re getting closer to the light at the end of the tunnel, that doesn’t mean that our virtual visits will be going away anytime soon. We’ve found these telemedicine appointments to be extremely beneficial for both our patients and our practice, so we’ll continue to offer them indefinitely.
We think these virtual visits are very beneficial for our patients for a number of reasons. For starters, there’s the safety aspect. You don’t need to go out in public, converse with people, sit in a waiting room and see a doctor in person amid the coronavirus outbreak. You can help flatten the curve and still see a provider by staying home and seeing a doctor from home. Aside from safety reasons, they are also very convenient. You don’t need to spend time getting to and from the appointment, which can be especially difficult if a foot issue is limiting your mobility. As long as you have a laptop or a smartphone, we can see you from anywhere.
Another reason why patients love these virtual visits is because advancements in technology have made it easier for patient and provider to share medical information. We can use screen sharing technologies to show your x-ray results over the phone or computer, and you can easily have your forms or test results forwarded from your primary care doctor to our specialty clinic. No more running around with forms or needing to see things in person, we can facilitate these necessities through a simple virtual connection!
Finally, these virtual appointments help patients because we believe we’re still able to offer our high level of care even when we can’t see you in person. Obviously some conditions are best cared for in person, and some appointments like suture or cast removal need to occur in person, but for certain diagnostic and follow up appointments, we can be just as effective through a computer.
Benefits For Providers
We love these virtual visits because they allow us to help keep foot traffic down in our office and the waiting room, which is important during this pandemic. It means we can cut down on the number of disinfectants we use, and if others follow this plan, that will ensure there are plenty of sanitation options on the market for those who need it most.
Telemedicine appointments also help us see more patients. We can fit more patients in during the day when gaps open up, and if something comes up for either side, it’s easy to reschedule into another time slot. We can be a lot more flexible with our scheduling through these appointments, and that allows us to see more patients.
We also have access to more patients than we could normally see. We’ve helped patients from all over the state through these virtual visits. These patients would have had to drive hours each way just to see us in person, and now we can see patients from St. Cloud or Rochester in minutes. You shouldn’t be limited to care options just because you live in a remote area or you’re not close to the best provider for your situation. That’s where these virtual visits can be a gamechanger.
If you want to set up a virtual visit with our Edina clinic, you can do so by clicking the link below or giving our office a call at (952) 224-8500.
