Posted by: North Georgia Eye Associates in News
North Georgia Eye Associates Offers Telemedicine
GAINESVILLE, Ga. (May 2020) – To do its part to serve the community and limit the strain on the healthcare system, North Georgia Eye Associates (GEA) is now offering telemedicine services. Telemedicine visits are being scheduled for urgent/emergent matters, prescription refills, contact lens reorders and for other clinical care needs.
“We added telemedicine services during the COVID-19 pandemic to keep our patients safe,” Gainesville Eye ophthalmologist Dr. Jack Chapman said. “Many of our patients are in the age group at risk for contracting the virus. They still needed our services and telemedicine appointments allowed us to provide that.”By improving all three areas of vision, most patients do not have to use glasses after having the surgery.
Medicare and most commercial insurance plans have substantially broadened access to telemedicine services, including waiving copays for telemedicine visits.
4 Steps to set-up a telemedicine visit with a North Georgia Eye Associates doctor:
- Call North Georgia Eye Associates at (770) 532-4444.
- GEA staff will schedule and ensure patients are set-up for their telemedicine appointment and verify insurance information.
- Relax and wait for a phone call from a GEA technician to start the appointment.
- It is important to be ready for the call to start the telemedicine visit.
- GEA staff may call from an unfamiliar or blocked number.
- If a call is missed, patients should return it as soon as possible.
- The technician will provide instructions for starting the video call (FaceTime, Google Duo, or Doximity) with your doctor.
June Lewis of Cumming had never seen a physician through telemedicine services. When she had an eye problem come up recently, she was concerned about leaving the house due to social distancing requirements, but wanted to have her problem addressed. She heard that North Georgia Eye Associates was offering telemedicine services to keep patients and staff healthy during COVID-19 and decided to give them a call.
Lewis was a new patient to North Georgia Eye Associates and to Dr. Chapman. When she called the office, she found that it was a very easy process to set up the appointment.
“The telemedicine call was done through FaceTime on my iPhone,” said Lewis. “Dr. Chapman was able to see my eye up close through the phone and diagnose my issue.”
Lewis added that it was also easy to schedule the second appointment to follow up on her eye issue. “Telemedicine is a wonderful option to be seen by a physician without having to leave home,” Lewis said.
Mary Beth Kiddie of Flowery Branch has been a patient and employee of North Georgia Eye Associates for 12 years. Before the state-wide shelter in place mandate, Kiddie was a test patient to ensure that the telemedicine services worked correctly. Since then, Kiddie has completed a routine exam with Dr. Chapman.
“Telemedicine offers a wonderful alternative to an in-office visit, said Kiddie. “I am in the at-risk age group, so I appreciate the option to be seen by Dr. Chapman without putting my health at risk.”
GEA has an exam room dedicated to telemedicine visits. Video appointments with a doctor are conducted through FaceTime, Google Duo or Doximity.
“Going forward in our new normal, patients will be contacted prior to their appointment to update information and get their chief complaint,” said Dr. Chapman. “Telemedicine will be a big part of our future to limit exposure and make visits more efficient.”
North Georgia Eye Associates has clinics in Gainesville; Braselton; and Cornelia; with consulting offices in Blairsville; Clayton; Hiawassee, Ga.; and Hayesville and Franklin, N.C. North Georgia Eye Associates offers laser cataract surgery, cataract eye surgery, ReSTOR Lens, TECNIS®, cataract education, eyelid plastic surgery, Latisse, eye conditions, dry eye, and contact lenses. To find out more about North Georgia Eye Associates, or to schedule an appointment, contact their office at 770-532-4444. You can also learn more about the services offered by North Georgia Eye Associates by following them on Facebook (www.facebook.com/gainesvilleeye), Twitter (@GainesvilleEye), Instagram (gainesville_eye_associates) or YouTube (www.youtube.com/GainesvilleEyetube).
###
