As part of our ongoing response to the situation surrounding COVID-19, the U.S. Dermatology Partners team is offering easy options to seamlessly transition to teledermatology services. Teledermatology visits, also called telehealth or online doctor’s appointments, are a great way for our patients to get the care they need while preventing any risk to their health or the health of others. In this blog post, we’ll walk through what you can expect from this transition to teledermatology. If you have questions or need help using our telehealth platforms, please contact your local U.S. Dermatology Partners team. We’re here to support our patients through this time.
Your Options for Telehealth Dermatology Visits
We want to offer options for those who need our help without exposing anyone to unnecessary health risks. For this reason, we’re offering help to our patients in a variety of ways, including:
Telephone Support
For new patients, we can offer assistance over the phone to help you prepare for a teledermatology session. For our current patients with existing conditions, we may be able to offer prescription refills, homecare recommendations, and other basic care to manage your existing health concerns over the phone.
Telehealth/Teledermatology
To offer real-time interaction, we recommend telehealth visits. Using audio and video, these teledermatology sessions most closely resemble a traditional appointment. Using telehealth, we’re able to see new and existing patients experiencing a range of concerns.
Why We’re Recommending Telehealth During COVID-19
Some of the reasons we’re recommending telehealth during COVID-19 include:
- Telehealth visits offer the closest alternative to a traditional office visit through virtual, real-time interaction with a dermatologist using both audio and video.
- If you’re already a patient with U.S. Dermatology Partners, we may be able to offer some basic management services over the phone or via email, but for new patients, teledermatology is the best option to receive dermatology treatment for a new condition or with a new practitioner.
- Seamlessly maintain your basic and preventive dermatology visits without taking any unnecessary risk.
- Diminish non-vital interaction with others who may have been exposed to COVID-19 for your own and your family’s safety while still getting the care you need to keep your skin healthy.
What Conditions Can be Treated Via Teledermatology?
Because we’re using video and audio, teledermatology is a good medium for conditions that are visual, like moles, acne, and rashes. For example, many of our patients may be experiencing a reaction to the poison oak, ivy, and sumac that is starting to grow as the temperatures outside rise, and a telehealth visit allows us to see the severity of your case and make the best treatment recommendations. Conditions that may rule you out as a candidate for teledermatology include lumps or bumps below the skin that are difficult to assess visually, any conditions that are very painful, or potentially life-threatening concerns like severe infections or burns. Some of the many conditions we can treat via teledermatology include:
- Acne
- Actinic Keratosis
- Athlete’s Foot
- Cosmetic Consultations
- Cold Sores
- Dandruff
- Dermatitis
- Eczema
- Genital Herpes
- Genital Warts
- Hair Loss
- Hives
- Hives – Chronic (urticaria)
- Hyperhidrosis
- Impetigo
- Jock Itch
- Keratosis Pilaris
- Lice
- Lichen Planus
- Medication refill
- Melasma
- Milia
- Moles
- Molluscum Contagiosum
- Nail Fungus
- Poison Ivy
- Post Treatment Concerns
- Psoriasis
- Ringworm
- Rosacea
- Scabies
- Seborrheic Dermatitis
- Shingles (Herpes Zoster)
- Warts
Are Teledermatology Appointments Covered by My Insurance?
Most major insurance providers accepted by U.S. Dermatology Partners will cover telehealth visits. In fact, many insurers who did not previously cover teledermatology, including Medicare, are offering benefits for these services in response to COVID-19. Before your session, we will verify your coverage with your insurance provider, and one of our team members will be in touch to verify your benefits. For existing patients, we will collect your normal copay prior to the telehealth visit. If fees or coverage are different for online visits, we will discuss this with you before your appointment.
Are Teledermatology Sessions Available in My Location?
As the largest network of online dermatologists in the U.S. treating over 100 skin, hair, and nail conditions, we know that patients rely on U.S. Dermatology Partners to keep them looking and feeling their best. We are proud to continue our services for residents of Texas, Arizona, Colorado, Kansas, Oklahoma, Missouri, Virginia, and Maryland. If the need arises, we may add additional treatment options during the COVID-19 pandemic, so please check in with our providers and visit our website regularly during our continually evolving response to COVID-19.
Available Platforms for Telehealth Sessions
We’re working to ensure everyone can safely and securely access teledermatology services. For that reason, we are using a variety of different platforms to make sure that you can reach us. Additionally, there is a much higher demand for these services right now, so we need to ensure we have the flexibility to adjust our technology if there are concerns. We are currently using FaceTime for iOS (Apple device) users, Google Duo, and Zoom. Using these technologies, we are often able to see patients within 24 hours, making care options accessible quickly, securely, and safely.
Preparing for Your Teledermatology Appointment
We are doing our utmost to make teledermatology visits a fast, easy, and seamless option for our patients. Below, we’ve provided some basic information to help you get started before your teledermatology session, but one of our team members would be happy to help you prepare if you need more personalized assistance. Please reach out if you have any questions.
Existing Patients
If you’re already a patient with us, please review the following steps to get ready for your appointment:
- Step 1 – Prepare your technology. Make sure you have a working mobile or desktop device with a camera, microphone, speakers, and working internet connection. You may need to download an app for some of our platforms, and we’ll be happy to help you with any of this before the visit.
- Step 2 – Upload images of the fronts and backs of your ID and insurance cards here. Even though you’ve visited us before, we want to verify your coverage for telehealth coverage and make sure we are maximizing your benefits.
- Step 3 – Login to your virtual appointment five minutes before your visit. This will give you time to make sure there are no connectivity or technological issues.
New Patients
If you’re new to U.S. Dermatology Partners, please review the following steps to get ready for your appointment:
- Step 1 – Prepare your technology. Make sure you have a working mobile or desktop device with a camera, microphone, speakers, and working internet connection. You may need to download an app for some of our platforms, and we’ll be happy to help you with any of this before the visit.
- Step 2 – Complete your registration online. These eRegistration forms give our offices the information they need to seamlessly prepare for your appointment. Let us know if you have questions about the forms that we can help you with.
- Step 3 – In addition to basic insurance, contact, and other information we get through the eRegistration form, we also need our new patients to provide a complete medical history intake form. These forms ensure we have the necessary information to provide the most accurate diagnosis and treatment recommendations.
- Step 4 – upload images of the fronts and backs of your ID and insurance cards here, so we can verify your coverage for telehealth coverage and make sure we are maximizing your benefits.
- Step 5 – Login to your virtual appointment five minutes before your visit. This will give you time to make sure there are no connectivity or technological issues.
During the Telehealth Visit
Your telehealth visit should feel a lot like your visits to our office, but these appointments can often be concluded in just a few minutes. Most telehealth sessions are concluded within half an hour. You’ll chat with your dermatologist about the area of concern, ask any questions, and show us any areas that are causing you concern. We recommend you find a private space for your visit like a bedroom or office with a door you can close and/or lock. We recommend you have good lighting available, so your dermatologist can see your conditions clearly. You can use just about any smartphone, mobile device, laptop, or desktop computer for a telehealth visit. You just need to make sure you have a working camera, microphone, speakers, and internet connection. We will discuss all of this as we help you get set up for your visit, so don’t hesitate to ask questions.
After Your Teledermatology Appointment
Once your appointment is concluded, please make sure you log out of any programs, clear your browsing history, and take other steps to protect your private health information as recommended by your provider. We will call in any prescriptions for you. If you have trouble getting any medications we recommend or prescribe, please let one of our team members know as soon as possible. We may be able to recommend alternatives. If your condition doesn’t improve or worsens after a teledermatology visit, please call our office right away. We’ll help you evaluate your response and adjust your treatment plan as necessary.
Ready to Get Started?
Are you interested in learning more about teledermatology? Let’s get started. Use our simple telehealth session request form to get in touch with the U.S. Dermatology Partners team nearest to you. One of our knowledgeable team members will be in touch with you soon to verify your appointment, answer your questions, and help you prepare for your teledermatology visits.
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