MDHI Telemedicine

MD Harris Institute Telemedicine (MDHIT) cares for patients in the following areas:

• Acute Minor Illness or injuries
• Episodic preventive medicine care, such as physical exams for healthy students and workers.
• Non-operative sports and rehabilitative medicine care
• Preventive, Occupational, and Environmental Medicine
• World Medicine (including acupuncture, yoga, and other areas of traditional Chinese, Indian, African, and Native medicine).
• Health, fitness, and aesthetics
• Pastoral counseling (family, marital, individual)

MDHIT does not provide ongoing routine primary or specialty care. Patients must find their own long term primary care provider. If you are in the United States and need emergency care, please call 911 immediately. If you are elsewhere, please follow your appropriate national, regional, or local system to access medical care.

Our focus is on underserved and distressed people throughout the world. For example, MDHIT provides care to patients from West Virginia to the Ukraine and Central Asia. We do not charge for services. Third party donations are welcome, but donations from patients are discouraged.

How to prepare for your visit

Telemedicine is different from in-person medicine in that many parts of the physical exam cannot be done by the provider. For example, looking in the ears and listening to the heart is not possible via telemedicine without specialized equipment.

Please have the following items at hand before the exam:

1. Flashlight – to illuminate skin findings (such as a rash) and to check the reactivity of pupils (in the eyes) to light. Do not use the flashlight on your phone if you are using the phone for the telemedicine connection. The light must be separate from the phone.
2. Spoon – to depress the tongue during a throat examination.
3. Magnifying glass – to magnify skin findings
4. Other medical equipment (stethoscope, glucometer, pulsoximeter, blood pressure machine) – as available

Please expose the body part which is causing the concern. For example, if your main complaint is ankle pain, please expose that ankle. If it is nausea or vomiting, please expose the abdomen. Do not expose private body parts, such as anything covered by a swimsuit, at any time. Please see your primary care or specialty physician for such concerns.

Accessing the MDHIT

Contact Dr. Harris to make an appointment. At least five minutes before the appointment time, sign in to the MDHIT Virtual Waiting Room below. Signing in will automatically notify the doctor and he will admit you to the Virtual Examination Room.

History

Dr. Harris will ask you about the following, as indicated:

1. Chief complaint – What is the main concern that you have today?
2. History of Present Illness – Please provide more information about the symptoms that you currently have and the story behind your current complaint.
3. Medical, Surgical, and Mental Health History
4. Social and Occupational History
5. Family and Reproductive History – if needed
6. Medication Use
7. Alcohol, Tobacco, and other substance use – if needed
8. Social influences on health (food security, poverty) – if needed

Please feel free to refuse to answer any question.

Examination

In a telemedicine visit, the patient will need to do some parts of the exam that a provider does in an in-person visit. For example, if the doctor asks you to squeeze your fingertip, he is checking to see how quickly the color turns from white (when the blood has been squeezed out) to red again (when the blood returns). If he asks you to walk, he is checking your gait. Depending upon your complaints, the exam will be more or less detailed. Musculoskeletal and rehabilitative care typically require examinations including strength and range of motion testing.

After your visit

You will achieve the greatest success if you follow Dr. Harris’ instructions carefully and consistently. Chronic pain, swelling, and poor range of motion frequently found in sports and rehabilitation practices take a long time to improve. Exercises are extremely important.

If you develop negative effects from any treatment, please see your doctor for primary, specialty, or emergency care as soon as possible. MDHI Telemedicine does not provide ongoing primary or specialty care and does not provide emergency care of any kind.

Conclusion

The Great Physician, Jesus Christ, healed the sick. Though a pale shadow of His power and glory, we at the MDHIT do what we can to promote health and alleviate suffering throughout the world. We are blessed to serve you.

MDHI Telemedicine Resources for Clinicians

Resource Links