Dear patients,
Preventive care visits are a crucial part of maintaining overall health and well-being. Coleman Pediatrics is making every effort to ensure that our patients are able to receive this necessary care as recommended by the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP). We are providing in-office well visits for patients aged twelve years or less, and continuing to administer vaccines per the AAP’s vaccination schedule, while following all of the most recent protocols and guidelines.
Due to current circumstances, some insurance companies are now covering well-child preventive visits provided via virtual visit. Patients two years and under will still need to come into the office to receive their preventive care. Certain portions of well visits for older children, such as vaccinations and/or physical examinations, may still need to be completed in the office – possibly at a later date to be determined with your physician.
Both Carefirst and Cigna have recently made changes to their coverage policies, allowing well visits to be provided via our secure virtual visit platform at this time to increase patient access to important preventive care. For insurance carriers other than Cigna or Carefirst, please direct all questions regarding your policy’s coverage of well-child visits performed virtually to their member services department (this number is typically listed on the back of the insurance card).
All patients will need to complete registration, any required forms, and age appropriate pre-visit questionnaires prior to their scheduled appointment. Registration and forms can be completed electronically via our secure patient portal: https://8042-1.portal.athenahealth.com/ . If you need assistance registering for the patient portal please contact our office. Age appropriate pre-visit questionnaires for well-child visits can be found at: https://www.coleman-pediatrics.com/patient-resources/health-maintenance/ . Completed pre-visit questionnaires can be sent to your provider through the patient portal as an attachment under “Messages” prior to the appointment.
A secure link to each of our virtual visits will be sent from noreply@priviamedicalgroup.com to the email that has been provided for the patient/family member. This link must be opened using the Google Chrome browser only. Google Chrome will need to be added to the device you are using if not already installed.
Patients scheduled for virtual well visits or medication follow-ups will be required to provide their current height and weight. If possible, please also provide blood pressure and pulse. Virtual visits should take place with the patient in a well-lit location that allows adequate privacy. This is particularly important for our teenage patients to be able to discuss confidential matters with their physician.
We encourage our patients to use the scheduling flexibility offered at this time to ensure that preventive care and all other medical needs are met throughout this evolving situation. To schedule an in-office well-child visit please call (301)468-9225. If your health insurance covers virtual well-child visits you may schedule online at: https://www.coleman-pediatrics.com/patient-resources/virtual-visits/ or call the office. Virtual visits for all problems, sick visits, medication follow-ups, behavioral, and developmental issues can also be scheduled using this link, or through the office. As always, we are available to address routine care as well as any concerns you may have about your child’s physical or emotional health.
Sincerely,
Coleman Pediatrics
Drs. Coleman, Thillairajah, & Greenberg
