Telemedicine Services at Omega Medical Group
Can’t make it to our office? Try a virtual appointment!
We know it can sometimes be difficult to come in for appointments even during “normal” times. The current COVID-19 pandemic has impacted our lives in ways that make in-office visits even more challenging for many.
That said, it is still important that you receive the attention and treatment you need.
Our office remains open for urgent, direct needs, but we also have a way for you to stay on top of managing your foot and ankle care when you are unable to come to our office:
Telemedicine services.
It does not matter if you are limited by illness, quarantine, lack of transportation, scheduling conflicts, or any other reason whatsoever – you can still receive expert insight and analysis from Dr. Olacio via a telemedicine appointment.
What is telemedicine?
Telemedicine is when a medical professional uses electronic communications to provide clinical services to a patient. The entire session is conducted remotely, without an in-office visit required.
At Omega Medical Group, telemedicine appointments allow Dr. Olacio to perform a (virtual) visual inspection of your foot or ankle, communicate directly with you, and answer any questions you may have – all while you remain safe and secure in your own home.
There are a variety of specific telemedicine tools and technologies. At our office, we are able to conduct telemedicine appointments through our patients’ online chart service.
Just contact our office to schedule a telemedicine appointment with us. Our staff can walk you through the simple steps of accessing your online chart if you have not done so before, as well as help you with any other questions you may have.
If, for any reason, you are unable to access you online chart service, we can conduct a telemedicine appointment via our HIPAA-compliant Zoom account. We can walk you through any potential setup you may need for this, as well.
Is telemedicine right for you?
Appointment types that work very well for a virtual consult include:
- Initial visual inspections. Our doctor can visually inspect your foot or ankle over video and give you a diagnosis and/or recommendations on the next steps.
- Check-up appointments. Your doctor can examine how a wound is healing or talk with you about how your rehab is going (after a previous treatment).
- Questions and advice. Have a question about your health care and want answers from a real medical professional? Telemedicine is by far the easiest way to do it.
Our telemedicine appointments are ideal for those who have to stay home, working parents, individuals who don’t have transportation to get to our office, and anyone who is considered higher-risk for complications from COVID-19 (as well as the people who live with them).
However, none of the above reasons is required to schedule a telemedicine appointment with us. Anyone can do so, as long as they do not have an urgent, critical need that can only be addressed in-office.
What do you need for your appointment?
Before scheduling your telemedicine appointment, please ensure that you have or will have:
- A device capable of making and receiving video calls. This can be a smartphone, tablet, or laptop computer with a webcam and microphone. For purposes of being able to show us your foot or ankle, if necessary, a smartphone or tablet can be much easier to handle.
- A stable, reliable internet connection.
- A private, quiet, and well-lit location to take the call.
We also recommend having a trusted member of your household with you in the room. They can serve as your camera operator, take notes, and provide other assistance as needed.
Is telemedicine covered by insurance?
While telemedicine services have been increasingly covered by insurance companies, the answer depends on your specific provider and plan. We also offer flexible self-pay appointments for patients without insurance or those who prefer to go out of their network.
Our first priority is to get you feeling better again as quickly as possible. Once we gather your information, we will gladly check in our system and give you a call or email back before your scheduled appointment.
As many insurance providers have made very recent changes to telemedicine coverage, the best way to ensure you have the latest information on your plan is to contact them.
How can you request your telemedicine appointment?
If you’re ready to request your telemedicine appointment with Dr. Olacio, please complete the form on this page.
A member of our office will follow up with you during our regular office hours to schedule your appointment, make sure you have everything you need, and answer any questions you may have.
If you’d prefer, you can also reach out to us directly by phone at (305) 514-0404.
We look forward to serving you—wherever you happen to be!