*Special Announcement: PHC Telehealth
Beginning January 2021, PHC Telehealth services are transitioning to a platform called "Luma Health." This will make your telehealth experience faster, better quality, and (as always) completely confidential. You do not need to sign up for anything or make any other changes, we just want you to know about this exciting improvement to our telehealth service.
What you need to know:
- You do not need to sign up for a new account or download anything to your computer or phone.
- You will receive a link to your appointment by text at two separate times: 30 minutes prior to your appointment and again 5 minutes before your appointment.
- The first PHC service to transition to to Luma Health will be our individual Behavioral Health appointments. Behavioral Health Groups will continue to meet over Zoom.
- Medical and Dental telehealth appointments will transition from Zoom to Luma Health in the near future.
A Note from PHC:
We want to keep you and your loved ones safe while also taking care of your health needs. Your provider/care team is now able to meet with you over video and/or phone, which makes your appointment available from your own home.
A video visit is our favorite way to reach you. While we prefer video visits, meeting over phone is also a great option! You are welcome to change to video meetings at any point in the future.
Please note that we have taken reasonable and appropriate efforts to decrease confidentiality risks for your telehealth appointment. There are potential risks to this technology including interruptions, unauthorized access, and technical difficulties.
Thank you,
Your Partnership Health Center Team
A video visit is our favorite way to reach you. While we prefer video visits, meeting over phone is also a great option! You are welcome to change to video meetings at any point in the future.
Please note that we have taken reasonable and appropriate efforts to decrease confidentiality risks for your telehealth appointment. There are potential risks to this technology including interruptions, unauthorized access, and technical difficulties.
Thank you,
Your Partnership Health Center Team
Questions? We're here to help.
Please call (406) 258-4535 or (406) 258-4399 with any questions about Telehealth or to speak with a Telehealth Coordinator. See below for answers to frequently asked questions.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What is “telehealth”?
Telehealth is the delivery of health care in a virtual setting. Patients can stay at home and meet with their provider over the phone or by video without needing to come in to the clinic. Telecommunications + Health = Telehealth
Who will arrange my telehealth appointment?
A Patient Services Representative will schedule your appointment.
What is “Luma”?
Luma Health is a company that we use to connect you with your provider with video. With Luma, there are no apps to download or accounts to register for ahead of time. Luma is HIPAA compliant - your connection is secure and private. Here's what Luma Health will look like on your smartphone:
Telehealth is the delivery of health care in a virtual setting. Patients can stay at home and meet with their provider over the phone or by video without needing to come in to the clinic. Telecommunications + Health = Telehealth
Who will arrange my telehealth appointment?
A Patient Services Representative will schedule your appointment.
- Phone: Our staff will make sure we have your correct phone number. When it’s time for your appointment, your provider will call you.
- Video: Prior to your appointment, you can visit this website (click here) to check your device's compatibility.
- Behavioral Health Visits: Your Behavioral Health visit will be conducted on a platform called Luma Health. You will receive a text message both 30 minutes and 5 minutes prior to your scheduled visit with a link to the Luma Health platform. There is no need to download anything. Please make sure to enable your camera and microphone.
- Medical and Dental Visits: These visits will be conducted on a platform called Zoom. You will receive a text or email 1-2 business days prior to your scheduled visit with a link to Zoom. Prior to your appointment, please make sure to sign up for a free Zoom account (click here) and download Zoom to your device (click here). Please also be sure to enable your camera and microphone.
What is “Luma”?
Luma Health is a company that we use to connect you with your provider with video. With Luma, there are no apps to download or accounts to register for ahead of time. Luma is HIPAA compliant - your connection is secure and private. Here's what Luma Health will look like on your smartphone:
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What is “Zoom”?
Zoom is a company that we use to connect you with your provider by video. We use Zoom because it works on any device. We have chosen Zoom because it is secure (encrypted). This means that it protects your privacy in the digital world.
What if I miss the call from my provider?
Your provider will try to reach you more than once. Please do not call back if you see that you missed their call. If you miss their first call, they will try you again. If you miss all of their calls, you will need to call us to re-schedule your appointment.
What if I need to cancel my telehealth appointment?
Telehealth visits, particularly video visits, require a lot of coordination to set up. We ask that you try to keep your appointment whenever possible. If you decide that you need to cancel or re-schedule, please let us know immediately. Re-scheduling a telehealth visit is more time consuming and complex than re-scheduling an in-person appointment.
How should I prepare for my telehealth appointment?
You can get the most out of your appointment by following these simple steps:
What if I need to be examined?
If your provider decides that there is a reason to conduct a physical examination, an in-person visit can be scheduled. This does not mean that you can’t continue with your telehealth visit as planned. There may be other topics that your provider can take care of by phone or video call.
Will my telehealth visit be recorded?
No. We do not record these visits, nor do we give patients permission to make their own recordings of telehealth appointments. If your provider feels it would be helpful to take photos of certain conditions during your video appointment, they will ask for your permission.
How much will a telehealth appointment cost?
Your insurance will be billed just as though you were seeing your provider in person. Our normal billing process and sliding fee scale discounts will apply. We encourage you to contact your insurance company to ask about your plan and coverage for telehealth. If you want to check on your sliding fee scale, or update your income information, please call (406) 258-4450 for assistance.
Zoom is a company that we use to connect you with your provider by video. We use Zoom because it works on any device. We have chosen Zoom because it is secure (encrypted). This means that it protects your privacy in the digital world.
What if I miss the call from my provider?
Your provider will try to reach you more than once. Please do not call back if you see that you missed their call. If you miss their first call, they will try you again. If you miss all of their calls, you will need to call us to re-schedule your appointment.
What if I need to cancel my telehealth appointment?
Telehealth visits, particularly video visits, require a lot of coordination to set up. We ask that you try to keep your appointment whenever possible. If you decide that you need to cancel or re-schedule, please let us know immediately. Re-scheduling a telehealth visit is more time consuming and complex than re-scheduling an in-person appointment.
How should I prepare for my telehealth appointment?
You can get the most out of your appointment by following these simple steps:
- At least 10 minutes before your appointment, make sure you have a quiet & private space to take the call
- Have a list of your current medications along with dosages and strengths
- Write down any questions or concerns that you want to discuss with your provider
- Test the audio & video functions on your device to make sure they are switched on and turned up
- During the phone or video call, be sure to speak loudly and clearly and look into the camera
What if I need to be examined?
If your provider decides that there is a reason to conduct a physical examination, an in-person visit can be scheduled. This does not mean that you can’t continue with your telehealth visit as planned. There may be other topics that your provider can take care of by phone or video call.
Will my telehealth visit be recorded?
No. We do not record these visits, nor do we give patients permission to make their own recordings of telehealth appointments. If your provider feels it would be helpful to take photos of certain conditions during your video appointment, they will ask for your permission.
How much will a telehealth appointment cost?
Your insurance will be billed just as though you were seeing your provider in person. Our normal billing process and sliding fee scale discounts will apply. We encourage you to contact your insurance company to ask about your plan and coverage for telehealth. If you want to check on your sliding fee scale, or update your income information, please call (406) 258-4450 for assistance.
