Telehealth - Frequently Asked Questions

Do you have questions about Telehealth visits at Patient First? We have answers!
  1. Easy! No appointment needed! Register online or by calling 866-990-2533 between 8 am and 7 pm, Monday through Thursday, and 8 am - 6pm on Friday. After registration, we will connect you virtually to a Patient First provider. Please have your insurance card and credit card on hand when you register.
  2. In your Telemedicine visit, the health care provider will:
    • Review your medical history, including allergies and medications you are taking,
    • Conduct a virtual exam, and
    • Provide diagnosis and treatment recommendations.
    • Have any prescription(s) electronically transmitted to your pharmacy. Opioids may not be prescribed during a Telehealth visit.
  3. After your virtual visit, your health care provider will send you a secure e-mail with patient care instructions, a summary of the visit, referral instructions, and other visit documents.  
  • Telehealth visits are available from 8 am to 7 pm, Monday through Thursday, 8 am to 6 pm Friday, and now available on Saturday and Sunday from 11 am - 3 pm!
  • As always, Patient First Medical Centers are open for Walk-in Visits from 8 am to 8 pm, 365 days a year!
Telemedicine visits are currently available in Virginia, Maryland, Pennsylvania, and New Jersey. If you are in one of these states, are at least 12 years old, and have one or more of the below conditions, you are eligible for a Patient First Telehealth visit. Minors (patients aged 12-17) must be accompanied by a parent throughout the entire telehealth visit. Patient First Telehealth is not currently available for work injuries or other employer services.
Common Telehealth visits include:
  • Headache
  • Body Aches
  • Fever
  • Nasal Congestion
  • Ear Pain
  • Stuffy Nose
  • Sore Throat
  • Cough
  • Chest Congestion
  • Urinary Issues in Women
  • Rashes
  • Itching
  • Skin Infection
  • Back Pain
  • Neck Pain
  • Other Body Pain (Excluding Chest Pain)
  • Achy joints
  • Vomiting
  • Diarrhea
  • Stomach Cramps
  • Food Poisoning
  • Prescription Refills, when appropriate and originally prescribed at Patient First. Opioids and certain other medications, such as medications to treat ADHD, will not be prescribed during Telehealth visits.
Not all conditions can be treated safely with Telehealth visits. If your health care provider determines that your condition requires in-person evaluation and care, he or she will direct you to the nearest Patient First, your personal physician, or the nearest hospital Emergency Room.

Telehealth visits are best suited for visits that do not require services such as lab testing or x-rays. Common Telehealth visits include:

Common Telehealth visits include:

  • Headache
  • Body Aches
  • Fever
  • Nasal Congestion
  • Ear Pain
  • Stuffy Nose
  • Sore Throat
  • Cough
  • Chest Congestion
  • Urinary Issues in Women
  • Rashes
  • Itching
  • Skin Infection
  • Back Pain
  • Neck Pain
  • Other Body Pain (Excluding Chest Pain)
  • Achy joints
  • Vomiting
  • Diarrhea
  • Stomach Cramps
  • Food Poisoning
  • Prescription Refills, when appropriate and originally prescribed at Patient First. Opioids and certain other medications, such as medications to treat ADHD, will not be prescribed during Telehealth visits.
  • Not all conditions can be treated safely or appropriately with Telehealth visits. While this list is not exhaustive, here are some medical conditions not appropriate for Telehealth visits:

    • Medical Emergencies. If you are experiencing a life-threatening condition, call 9-1-1 or go to your nearest emergency room.
    • Animal bites or scratches and/or possible rabies exposure
    • Lacerations
    • Burns
    • Puncture wounds
    • Other acute injuries
    • Eye trauma or eye pain
    • Chest pain
    • Abdominal pain
    • Asthma exacerbation
    • Vaginal complaints; urinary/genital symptoms and complaints in men; and/or sexually transmitted exposure, evaluation, and treatment
    • Post-partum, post-surgical, or neonatal problems
    • Chronic conditions, such as diabetes and hypertension, for which you have not previously been treated at Patient First (including prescription drug refills for these conditions)
    • Requests for completion of forms
    • Workers compensation visits
    • Other conditions requiring in-person evaluation or services that are only available during a face to face visit, as determined by your Patient First provider
  • Yes. Telehealth visits are available to new and existing patients.
  • Not at this time. When you are in need of a Telehealth visit, register online or call 866-990-2533 to get started. We will connect you with a health care provider.
  • Yes. For those without insurance, the Telehealth visit cost is $90 for a Routine Visit and $50 for a Follow-up Visit.
  • Telehealth visits are appropriate for patients with symptoms of COVID-19, those awaiting test results or requesting guidance related to quarantine, and other questions or concerns about COVID-19
  • Telehealth visits are not appropriate for requests for anxiety prescriptions or for requests for written orders for COVID-19 testing. However, Patient First offers COVID-19 testing at all Patient First centers on a walk-in basis. For more information about COVID-19 testing, click here.
  • No, not at this time. If you have a work injury or require other employer services, you may simply walk into any Patient First from 8 am to 8 pm, every day of the year.
Patient First does not refill prescriptions that were originally written during a Telehealth visit without another Telehealth visit or in-person evaluation by a provider.
  • Call 866-990-2533  between 8 am and 7 pm, Monday through Thursday, and 8 am to 6 pm on Friday, and ask to speak with a nurse about your previous visit. The nurse will view your records, discuss your questions or concerns, and follow up with your health care provider if needed.
  • You will receive an email after your visit that contains your health care provider’s instructions, visit summary, referral slips, and other post-visit documents. It will be encrypted to protect your privacy.
  • In the body of the email, click on the 'Click here' link. If you click “Click here” and receive a warning regarding a suspicious link, please click 'Proceed'.
  • After clicking, “Click here”, you will be prompted to create a Proofpoint Encryption Portal account. Please create your account by completing all necessary fields and then clicking “Continue”.

    Once you click “Continue” your account is established and you will be directed straight to your inbox where you can access your secure Patient First email. 

    Note: Returning Patient First Telehealth patients who have already established a Proofpoint Encryption Portal account will not be asked to establish another account. Instead, when they click “Click here” they will be directed to a login page where they can simply enter their password and click “Continue” in order to access their portal and secure email. 
  • Yes. Please review the Telehealth Consent Form before your Telehealth visit. The form for minor patients can be found here. You will be asked during registration to agree to its terms before you see the health care provider.
  • Please have your insurance card and credit card on-hand when you register.
  • In addition, please review your medical history and prior medical records, if available. Your health care provider will rely on you to provide accurate and complete information regarding your medical history, condition(s), and current or previous medical care.