Coronavirus Information

The CDC and local health departments have put out guidelines for who should be tested for coronavirus.  As it stands now in the DFW area, there are several places where patients can be tested.  We do not have the facilities or supplies in our office to be able to perform the test. 

The current criteria for testing includes these symptoms:

Fever greater than 99.5 degrees F

AND

Cough or shortness of breath.

For the latest Dallas County updates go to:

https://www.dallascounty.org/covid-19/testing-locations.php

Now more than ever we will be relying on telemedicine to provide services for our patients.  We want to continue to provide continuous care to the greatest extent possible.  You can schedule a telemedicine visit by calling our office number just as you would for scheduling a regular visit.  Our medical receptionists will provide an appointment date and time and will take your insurance information if you are a new patient to our practice.  Medicare and commercial insurance plans consider telemedicine visits the same as regular visits in terms of co-pays, co-insurance, deductibles, etc.  Our medical receptionists will accept payment or make payment arrangements prior to your telemedicine visit. You will be given a website link that will activate your visit.  

When it is time for your visit you should be in a quiet private place to discuss your healthcare.  You will need to have a device such as a desktop computer, laptop, tablet, or smartphone that has both audio and video capabilities.

Starting March 30, 2020 we will be seeing face-to-face visits when necessary.  Face-to-face visits are those that require a hands-on exam or procedure to provide diagnosis or therapeutic benefit.  

EXAMPLES:

--Moderate or severe ear pain with impacted wax or discharge that needs to be cleaned out by one of our doctors

--Hoarseness for more than 3 weeks that requires a scope exam to view the vocal cords

--Nose bleeding that may require nasal cauterization or packing

--Mouth or throat spot or bump that may require a biopsy

--Lump in neck that may require a biopsy

--Sudden hearing loss that requires an audiogram (hearing test)

--Abscess of throat that may require incision and drainage

--Symptoms of acute sinus infections that may require prescriptions such as antibiotics

--Follow-up on CT scan or MRI results to discuss next steps in the treatment plan

--Dizziness or vertigo symptoms that may require ordering of tests or prescriptions

--Flare-up of allergy symptoms that may require prescription medication

--Follow-up on status of your health in relation to a previous treatment plan