The 10 Top-Rated Online Doctors in Michigan in 2023

The State of Michigan, through the Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS), confirms that telehealth supports long-distance clinical healthcare, health administration, patient and professional health-related education, and public health using telecommunication technologies and the transmission of electronic information. 

Telemedicine is included in the definition of telehealth. It involves using real-time interactive telecommunication technology at both the originating and distant sites that allow instantaneous interaction during healthcare services delivery. The interaction can either be through audio or video, or both. This definition also encompasses store-and-forward online messaging. 

On the other hand, remote patient monitoring has been recently defined by the State Legislature as the use of digital technology to collect and transmit collected health and other medical information by a patient to his or her provider to be assessed and receive recommendations based on these data. 

Despite the three common modalities of telemedicine being defined and recognized under state laws, only live video is given coverage under the Department of Health and Human Services programs. The state is yet to impose reimbursement policies for the other types of modalities so that practitioners and patients would not be hesitant to utilize them in engaging telemedicine services. 

Telehealth and telemedicine services are not treated as substitutes for medical services delivered in-person. Rather, it is only recommended when its utilization is justified by an imminent health risk, necessary urgent medical care, or when travel has been prohibited or completely impossible. 

Many improvements and amendments can still be introduced in the state of Michigan’s current telehealth and telemedicine laws. There are still gray areas in telemedicine laws, especially in its reimbursement policies and when it comes to establishing practitioner-patient relationships. 

Michigan State Telemedicine Laws and Policies

Who can practice telemedicine in Michigan? 

The general rule is that for a healthcare professional to render telemedicine services to a patient in a certain location, he or she must be duly licensed or authorized to practice within that jurisdiction. Hence, only holders of a Michigan medical license can practice telemedicine within the state. 

In the case of behavioral therapy, in addition to an MI license, the fully licensed psychologist or limited licensed practitioner acting under the direction of the former must also be duly certified by the Behavioral Analyst Certification Board (BACB) as a Qualified Behavioral Health Provider. 

Licensees must meet continuing education requirements or request a waiver from compliance with the CE requisite as allowed under the Michigan Public Health Code. 

Interstate Medical Licensure Compact

The Interstate Medical Licensure Compact‘s main goal is to streamline and expedite the process for physicians who want to practice across different states. This does not serve as a free pass as interested physicians are still subjected to individual state qualifications. However, it cannot be denied that it has expanded access to healthcare services, especially those that can only be provided by specialists not available in the patient’s location. 

The state of Michigan has initially passed House Bill 4066 into law as Public Act 524, which became effective on March 28, 2019. This confirmed the state’s membership in the IMLCC. Physicians may opt to elect Michigan as their State of Principal License for purposes of registering through the Compact if any of the following conditions are present:

• If Michigan is the primary residence of the physician;
• It is where the physician’s employer is located;
• At least 25% of the physician’s practice occurs in the state; and
• It is state-designated as a residence for federal income tax purposes

The Compact issues a Letter of Qualification (LOQ) through an online application together with a link to an account where the physician can start applying to other state members. It is then the state that reviews the application based on the IMLCC account of the physician. 

Standard of Care

Telemedicine services are to be rendered with the same standard of care as in-person healthcare services. This means that the duties, responsibilities, and liabilities of a medical professional, whether rendering services in-person or via telemedicine, are governed by the same laws and code of ethics. 

Providers must maintain an electronic health record (EHR) of their patients that should reflect the telemedicine healthcare services available, including all remote patient encounters. 

Informed Consent

The requirement of securing consent before rendering any telemedicine service applies to all providers. The needed consent may be obtained directly or indirectly and can either be written or verbal. Such information must be indicated in the patient’s medical record as the same is done in in-person consultations. 

This rule, however, does not apply to inmates in a correctional facility managed by the department of corrections since they are under the latter’s jurisdiction.

Confidentiality

For an online healthcare service to be considered telemedicine service, it must comply with the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) and be conducted via secure interactive audio, video, or both telecommunication system. 

E-prescription

Michigan is one of the few states that removed the requirement of a prior in-person examination when prescribing medications via telehealth. The following conditions must be present for the telehealth provider to issue a valid prescription:

• The provider seeing the patient must be a licensed prescriber. 
• The medical service rendered is within the scope of the provider’s practice. 
• The drug to be prescribed is not a controlled substance. 

 If a controlled substance is to be prescribed, the act is subject to some qualifications, and the provider must meet state requirements. The physician must be a holder of a Controlled Substance License to prescribe such substances legally. The only eligible professions that can apply for a controlled substance license are as follows:

• Dentists
• Medical Doctors or Physicians
• Optometrists with DPA and TPA Certification
• Osteopathic Physicians
• Pharmacists
• Physician’s Assistants
• Podiatrists
• Veterinarians

The existence of a bona fide prescriber-patient relationship remains mandatory for prescribing controlled substances falling under Schedule II to V. This means that a provider cannot prescribe them based on an initial remote interaction only. The prescription of these schedules must be reported to the Michigan Automated Prescription System (MAPS) as mandated by state law. 

In addition, follow-up care must also be included in the course of treatment to properly monitor the effect of the controlled substance on the patient or at least be referred to his or her primary care physician or another accessible licensed prescriber. 

Any violation of these requirements is enough grounds to place limitations or restrictions on the healthcare provider’s license to practice via telemedicine. 

Telemental Services

Telepractice is observed when rendering psychiatric or psychological services such as:

• Assertive Community Treatment Program (ACT)
• Behavioral Health Treatment Services (BHT) 
• Child Therapy
• Family Therapy
• Individual Therapy
• Medication Therapy Management 
• Psychiatric Collaborative Care Model Services 
• Speech, Language, and Hearing Therapy
• Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy

Other forms of counseling services can also be delivered through telehealth methods. Parent or guardian education and training on proper direction, observation, and intervention based on their child’s individual needs can also be arranged and conducted through telepractice. 

In the case of speech-language and audiology services, the following are considered to be eligible providers:

• A fully licensed speech-language pathologist (SLP)
• Michigan-licensed Audiologist
• Candidates of both specialties under the direction of an audiologist or qualified SLP
• Limited licensed SPL under the supervision of a fully licensed SLP or audiologist

All documents and paperwork must be checked by the licensed audiologist or SLP, whose signature must appear on the same. 

Mental health services delivered via telemedicine are subject to the same rules and regulations as similar services rendered in person. The only modality of telemedicine for telepractice that complies with state law is the live video or real-time interaction. 

All healthcare professionals, including medical staff, must be properly trained in telecommunication technology and other equipment in the conduct of telemedicine services. For behavioral health treatment services (BHT), the physical presence of a telepractice technology trained facilitator with the patient for the entire duration of the session is a must. 

Teledentistry

Teledentistry in the state of Michigan has and is continuously evolving with the changing times and modern technology. Providers who render oral healthcare services or education can deliver them through various modalities such as asynchronous, synchronous, mobile health, and remote patient monitoring.

The time saved and the convenience patients experience by availing teledental services has led to an increase in the utilization by Michiganders of this mode. However, some services still require an in-person visit and can only be performed in the dentist’s office. 

Teledentists must uphold the same standard of care and delivery of services they observe when rendering dental services in-office. They are also allowed to prescribe medications subject to the same limitations as other telemedicine providers. Their liability, whether in-person or through telehealth, is just the same. They are expected to treat online patients the same way they would if they were physically sitting on their chairs. 

State Reimbursement Policy

A Michigan-licensed healthcare professional acting must render all telemedicine services within the scope of their practice. The availability of reimbursement also depends on the type of healthcare service rendered, the modality by which the telemedicine service is delivered, the practitioner who provides it, and the site of the patient and the provider. 

The following are recognized originating sites: 

• County mental health clinic
• Hospitals: Critical Access, Inpatient, Outpatient, 
• In-school setting
• Medical clinics
• Physician’s office
• Publicly-funded mental health facilities
• Renal Dialysis Centers: hospital-based or critical access hospitals only
• Skilled nursing facilities
• Tribal Health Centers

The patient’s home is only considered as an eligible originating site when the telehealth or telemedicine services concerned fall under the category of behavioral health therapy or speech-language and audiology. 

Other established sites that the provider deems appropriate to serve as an originating or patient site can also be considered valid. It is the originating site that bills for the facility fee.

Rural health centers (RHCs), federally qualified health centers (FQHC), community mental health (CMH), and prepaid inpatient health plans (PIHP) can serve as either a distant site or an originating site for health care services rendered via telemedicine. 

It is to be noted that despite the inclusion of store-and-forward and remote patient monitoring modalities in some fields of specialization’s definition of telemedicine, they are still not covered and reimbursed under MI Medicaid. 

What services are reimbursed in Michigan?

By MI Medicaid:

•   Live Video

      X   Store-and-Forward

       X  Remote Patient Monitoring

       X  Stand-alone or combination e-consults through telephone, e-mail, text message, or         facsimile

Live Video

Services falling under the following categories are reimbursed by MI Medicaid if delivered via live video:

• Behavior change intervention
• Behavioral health
• Diabetes Self-Management Education Training Program 
• Education Services
• End-Stage Renal Disease (ESRD) – related services 
• Inpatient consultations
• Nursing facility subsequent care
• Office or other outpatient consultations and services
• Psychiatric diagnostic procedures
• Subsequent hospital care
• Substance Use Disorder Treatment

However, some of these services still require an initial or at least one in-person or face-to-face consultation with the provider, and live video conferencing is only utilized as an added care.

For speech-language and audiology services, an annual referral from a physician is needed to be reimbursed for such services. 

By Private Payer and other health care service plan providers:

Michigan has an existing private payer law that provides that insurers or healthcare corporations cannot make face-to-face interaction a requirement for services that can be appropriately delivered via telemedicine means. 

There is also a service parity wherein services that are provided via telemedicine shall be covered by healthcare service plan providers and insurance companies under certain conditions. However, there is still no explicit payment parity being implemented. 

All services, coverage, deductibles, terms, conditions, and reimbursements are to be determined by the insurer or healthcare corporation and as indicated in the policy or contract. Although coverage and reimbursement for telemedicine services are provided, telehealth services do not enjoy the same benefits, and their coverage is left to the discretion of the insurance corporations. 

Who can avail of these reimbursements?

The following healthcare professionals can avail of the reimbursements under the Medicaid program and private health insurance providers:

• Advanced Practice Registered Nurse 
• Audiologists
• Behavioral Analysts 
• Assistant Behavioral Analysts
• Clinical Nurse Specialist
• Medication Therapy Management Service Providers 
• Nurse Practitioners
• Pharmacists
• Physicians
• Physician Assistant
• Psychologists
• Limited Licensed Psychologists
• Qualified Behavioral Health Professionals
• Speech-Language Pathologist
• Limited Licensed Speech-Language Pathologist

Occupational therapists, physical therapists, and speech therapists cannot avail of telemedicine reimbursements under both types of policies. 

Public Health Emergency (PHE)

The Covid-19 pandemic impacts not just the health of Michiganders but also the economy and the social aspect of living. It is still a threat to the overall condition of the state. Its government has deemed it necessary to temporarily stop the strict implementation of some of its telehealth regulations and observe more lenient rules at this time. Some of the emergency and disaster declarations made by the state of Michigan are as follows: 

• Physicians do not need to obtain written consent from the patient before rendering telehealth services. Verbal consent will suffice during the existence of a public health emergency. 

• The state of Michigan has enacted what is known as the “pandemic healthcare immunity act,” which states that a healthcare provider or facility that renders telehealth services during the PHE shall not be liable for an individual’s injury or even death for whatever reason during treatment unless the provider is guilty of gross negligence, intentional infliction of harm, willful misconduct, or intentional and willful criminal misconduct. 

• Store-and-forward, remote patient monitoring, and other types of communication are considered valid modalities for transmitting patient health information and as part of the telehealth services being delivered. 

• The conduct of an in-person examination can be waived when it comes to prescribing medications via telehealth. However, in the case of prescribing methadone, a face-to-face evaluation remains mandatory. 

• Medicaid recognizes the patient’s home as a valid originating telehealth site for the meantime. 

• The continuing education requirement was momentarily suspended, and any hours worked by a healthcare practitioner in response to the Covid-19 pandemic will be credited to the next CE requirement for license renewal as long as they present substantial proof. Live webinars wherein the instructor and the provider can interact synchronously are also accepted forms of complying with the CE requirement. 

Most of these provisions are only valid during the existence of the public health emergency, and its effectiveness would cease to exist once the state of PHE has been lifted. The main goal of these temporary guidelines was to expand access to healthcare services and providers through telemedicine, given the social distancing and the other restrictions that must be observed at these times. 

10 Excellent Online Doctors and Telemedicine Providers in Michigan

Given the increase in the need for healthcare services in the state, most Michiganders prefer to use telemedicine to address non-emergent medical issues. Aside from the added benefits of saving time, skipping travel, and lesser cost, telemedicine is not different from in-person delivery of some healthcare services. When looking for an online doctor to consult your health concerns with, you can check out the list below for top quality telemedicine services: 

Michigan Medicine Virtual Care 

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•   Prescription
•   HIPAA Compliant
•   Board Certified Primary Care Physicians and Pediatricians
•   Insurance

The Michigan Medicine Virtual Care offers video visits and E-visits for both adults and children. 

Video visits are very similar to in-person consultations. These can either be clinic-scheduled, similar to seeing your doctor in-office, or self-scheduled urgent care video visits, which is similar to a walk-in trip to one of their clinics. 

In E-Visits, patients do not need to book an appointment or make any phone call. One can simply access this service through their patient portal, MyUofMHealth. By answering a questionnaire about the symptoms you are experiencing, providers at Michigan Medicine can provide a diagnosis and a treatment plan. E-Visits are only available for existing and active Michigan Medicine patients. A patient is considered active if they have received care from one of their providers within the last 24 months. 

Most common and non-urgent medical conditions such as the following can be accommodated under this platform: 

• Adult patients: cough, diarrhea, flu, head lice, insect bites, painful urination, rash, red-eye, sinus issues, stings, vaginal discharge, vaginal irritation

• Pediatric patients: cough, diaper rash, constipation, diarrhea, flu, head lice, insect bites, red-eye, ringworm, sore throat, stings

For pediatric patients or those below 18 years of age, parents can gain proxy access to their information by submitting an online form. The type and amount of information parents or legal guardians can view on the child’s medical records follow state laws. 

Their app can be downloaded from the App Store and Google Play. 

Locations/Cities Served:

Michigan Health Specialists

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•   Prescription
•   HIPAA Compliant
•   Board Certified Doctors of Family Medicine, Internists, Pediatricians, Physician Assistants, Nurse Practitioners
•   Insurance

At Michigan Health Specialists, their approach to medical care is patient-centered. They accommodate patients from newborns to grandparents. The main target of their services is the patients who have trouble transporting from their homes to clinics, mothers with sick children or parents, and the working class. Their services include the following:

• Family and Internal Medicine: They specialize in preventive measures and the treatment of complex diseases. 
• Geriatric Care: They help senior patients maintain their independence and preserve their quality of life through available resources and with the help of family members. 
• Holistic Medicine: Under this service, they do not only provide treatment for your current medical issue but will also assess your food choices and eating habits, lifestyle, and personal circumstances. 
• Pain and Chronic Condition Management: Specialists utilize personalized therapies and minimally invasive treatments to address the patient’s condition while changing their perspective about it. 
• Pediatrics: If the one needing care is an infant, kid, teen, or adolescent, MHS pediatricians can accommodate them. 
• Urgent Care: Common conditions requiring immediate medical attention such as cough, flu, skin infection, abrasion, sore throats, earaches, and many others are treated under this service. 

Aside from giving a diagnosis, providing treatment, and follow-up care, their healthcare practitioners also issue prescriptions and prescription refills. If your medical condition requires the expertise of a specialist, your current provider can refer you to an appropriate one. 

They also have a team of trained care managers who can coach and give patients tips and guidance on attaining a healthy lifestyle. This service is inclusive of tools and other resources. 

Locations/Cities Served: Flint, Burton

Workit Health

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•   Prescription
•   HIPAA Compliant
•   Board Certified Counselors and Therapists 
•   Insurance

Michigan residents looking for a virtual clinic that can cater to different substance addiction and use disorders, Workit Health is the perfect platform for you. They have a patient-centered and evidence-based approach to addiction care. Every patient’s first visit is with a counseling team who will make an initial assessment of your condition and note your medical history. After that, their board-certified clinicians will accommodate you via their in-app video conferencing after having thoroughly reviewed your records. 

They offer virtual doctor’s appointments, online behavioral therapy for addiction recovery, The Sinclair Method (TSM), education program, and digital support. The following are the conditions and issues they treat and manage:

• Alcoholism
• Chronic Pain
• Eating Disorders
• Gambling 
• Hepatitis C Treatment
• Opioid Withdrawal Help
• Sex and Porn
• Tobacco Addiction 
• Other Drugs

All treatment plans are personalized and tailored to the needs of each individual. Clients are given the freedom to set their own goals, whether they think they are ready to abstain or stop consumption of these substances completely or if they want to take it in moderation. Their service is mainly a medication-assisted treatment program that increases clients’ likelihood of completing the entire course of treatment and continuing until they have fully recovered. Some of the medications they prescribe are Buprenorphine, Naltrexone, and Suboxone. All of these medications are approved by the US Food and Drug Administration. 

Online recovery groups, messaging, and therapeutic courses are made available to clients as well. All of their services are channeled through their Workit Health website or app, available on Google Play and the App Store. 

Location/City Served: Ann Arbor

McLaren Now

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•   Prescription
•   HIPAA Compliant
•   Board Certified Physicians
•   Insurance except for Medicare

If you have an urgent care situation, providers at McLarenNow Virtual Visit can offer you the healthcare service you need. It doesn’t matter whether you’re an existing and established patient or a new one. They will accommodate you just the same with their evidence-based patient care. 

If you are exhibiting any of the following symptoms or illnesses, you should see one of their providers for a diagnosis and proper treatment:

• Allergy
• Asthma
• Back Pain
• Cold
• Constipation
• Cough
• Diarrhea
• Dizziness
• Earache
• Fever
• Flu
• Headache
• Hives
• Insect Bite
• Joint Pain
• Minor Injuries
• Minor Illnesses
• Muscle Strain
• Nosebleed
• Rash
• Red Eye
• Sinus Congestion
• Skin Conditions 
• Sore Throat
• Toothache

You can access their services through their website or the McLarenNow app from the App Store and Google Play. For easier preparation of your prescribed medications, you can add your preferred pharmacy on the app, so you no longer have to keep on manually adding them every time you get a prescription or refill. Controlled substances and narcotics are not among the drugs prescribed by McLaren providers. 

The McLaren system consists of a wide network of specialty care physicians, cancer centers,  health maintenance organizations, infusion, hospice providers, medical school affiliation, pharmacy services, and a medical malpractice insurance company. Given these connections that McLaren has with the medical community, even though your illness is not listed as those viable for a virtual visit, you can be sure that you will be properly referred to another high-quality providing practitioner or facility.

Locations/Cities Served:

MidMichigan Health

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•   Prescription
•   HIPAA Compliant
•   Board Certified OB-GYNs, Family Medicine Doctor, Psychiatrist, and other Specialists
•   Insurance

MidMichigan Health presents its patients with various options of availing Virtual Care. These are:

• E-Consults: This communication transpires between your primary care physician and a specialist from MidMichigan Health and is often utilized when your medical concern requires the latter’s expertise. This applies to cardiology, endocrinology, neurology, rheumatology, and infectious disease issues. This type of virtual care provides convenience by either saving you a trip to the specialist’s office or making booking an appointment easier. 

• E-Visits: This option is appropriate for non-urgent conditions like acid reflux, eye problems, insect bites, stings, rash, and urinary tract infections. One only has to complete a questionnaire and submit it through the MyMidMichigan patient portal. 

• Telemedicine: If you want to consult with a MidMichigan specialist, their telemedicine visit is the right option for you. You can discuss and ask for expert medical advice with one of their providers via audiovisual telecommunication technology. They cover various specialties under their telehealth program, such as psychiatry, bone health, maternal-fetal medicine, palliative care, and many others. 

• Video Visits: If you already have a MidMichigan primary care provider and have a scheduled check-up, you may opt to have it conducted via online video chats as long as there is no physical examination required. Your doctor determines the appropriateness of this modality for your appointment. 

• Virtual Post-Op Appointments: If a MidMichigan surgeon has operated on you, he or she will lay down this option if he or she finds it appropriate for your case. 

They also have support groups for various health topics such as diabetes, bariatrics, breathing easy, insulin pump, pregnancy, infant feeding, etc. Patients can access all these services and their medical records through the MyMidMichigan Patient Portal powered by MyChart. 

Location/City Served: Midland

Beaumont Urgent Care

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•   Prescription
•   HIPAA Compliant
•   Board Certified Physicians and Urgent Care Providers 
•   Insurance

All Michigan residents of all ages can avail of the healthcare services offered by Beaumont via virtual visit. Patients can expect their doctors to show care, courtesy, compassion, integrity, and passion in treating them. Their healthcare practitioners will determine the level of care the patient needs, educate and share their knowledge about your medical concern, and provide care tips as part of your treatment plan. 

Although not all illnesses can be addressed via telemedicine, Beaumont providers still try their best to accommodate most non-threatening conditions. The common conditions addressed during the virtual visit services are:

• Allergies
• Conjunctivitis
• Influenza
• Minor Burns
• Minor Cuts
• Rashes
• Scrapes
• Sinus Infections
• Upper Respiratory Illness
• Urinary Tract Infection 
• Yeast Infections

It is to be noted that not all virtual visits result in a diagnosis and corresponding treatment plan.  Beaumont providers can also triage a patient based on the symptoms he or she is exhibiting and make the proper referral to a specialist or health facility that can provide urgent care. They have physical locations in Michigan, where they can send you over if they determine after triage that you would need urgent medical attention and care. 

Beaumont’s telemedicine provider is Solv, one of the leading providers in the country. It can be downloaded through the App Store and Google Play. Patients can schedule same-day visits, video conferences with their providers, communicate by messaging, find information about their insurance and track their medical expenses. 

Locations/Cities Served:

Envision Medical Group

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•   Prescription
•   HIPAA Compliant
•   Board Certified Cardiologists, Family Physicians, Pediatricians, Nephrologists, Podiatrists, Sleep Doctor, and many other specialists
•   Insurance

If you are looking for a comprehensive medical organization in Michigan to cater to all of your medical needs, Envision is just that. It is a physician-driven network that provided quality healthcare services for a low cost. They offer specialty services and health and wellness services to all Michiganders currently located within the state. 

For specialties, their providers are experts and experienced in the following fields:

• Breast Care
• Cardiology
• Family Medicine
• Functional Medicine
• Infectious Disease
• Infusion Therapy
• Internal Medicine
• Nephrology
• Orthopedics
• Pediatric Care
• Podiatry
• Pulmonary
• Sleep Medicine
• Vascular Services

Under their health and wellness program, they provide the following services:

• Cardiac Prevention Education
• Care Management
• Chronic Disease Management
• Diabetes Education
• Diet and Nutrition
• Mental Health
• Substance Abuse
• Tobacco Cessation
• Weight Loss

They also conduct home sleep testing for individuals who have difficulty falling asleep or are experiencing sleep disorders. They issue prescriptions and refills electronically, which they send to your chosen local pharmacy. 

Patients can access educational resources on the Envision website. These are mostly videos wherein providers discuss and explain some of their services, their fields of specialization, explanations on some simple and complex medical conditions, and many other topics on healthcare. 

You can expect the same quality of care they provide when conducted in their offices or clinics. They utilize Chiron Health for their online platform. The app is available in both the App Store and Google Play. 

Locations/Cities Served:

 Michigan Pain Specialists

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•   Prescription
•   HIPAA Compliant
•   Board Certified Pain Medicine Specialists, Pain Management Experts, Physician Assistant
•   Insurance

If pain is your problem, doctors at Michigan Pain Specialists can take care of that for you. All their specialists underwent fellowship training. Their knowledge is backed by years of experience. They can diagnose and treat all types of pain, both common and complex conditions, such as but not limited to the following:

• Arthritis
• Back Pain
• Bursitis
• Cancer Pain
• Coccydynia or Tailbone Pain
• Complex Regional Pain Syndrome (CRPS)
• Degenerative Disc Disease
• Failed Surgery Syndrome
• Fibromyalgia
• Herniated Discs
• Hip Pain
• Knee Pain
• Neck Pain (without surgery and after surgery)
• Neuralgia
• Neuropathies
• Radiculopathy
• Sciatica
• Shoulder Pain
• Spinal Stenosis

Patients can schedule a virtual visit to avail of some form of healthcare service for these pain problems. You can ask your provider about the service you intend to use via telemedicine and whether or not such a modality is appropriate for such a service. 

Aside from videoconferencing, you can also digitally send health information that is relevant to your condition and treatment, converse with your physician through messaging and upload photos of the subject of your medical concern. 

Providers at Michigan Pain Specialists observe electronic prescribing, which they electronically transmit to your chosen pharmacy. They also manage your medications to ensure that you are taking them properly and that there is no possible harmful drug interaction among the drugs you are taking. 

Their website provides telehealth resources such as webinars where they talk about new treatments and other topics revolving around pain. They partner with private companies for their research to improve existing pain solutions or discover new treatment options for patients who experience chronic pain. 

Locations/Cities Served: Ypsilanti, Adrian

Spectrum Health

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•   Prescription
•   HIPAA Compliant
•   Board Certified Physicians and Specialists 
•   Insurance

The Virtual Health services offered by Spectrum can be availed of whether you are at home, your provider’s office, or in any other remote location. You can choose from the following care options which one is the most appropriate for your medical concern:

• At Work: This is especially dedicated to employers as services include primary care, talk therapy, travel consultation, and work injury triage. This can save employers from the cost of emergency room trips. 

• Specialty Telemedicine: The specialties at Spectrum Health are subdivided into adult health and children’s health and covers a wide range of illnesses and medical conditions

• Adult Health: Cancer, Cardiovascular Care, Digestive Health, Hospice, Immediate Health, Lifestyle Medicine, Neurosciences, Nutrition, Orthopedics, Pregnancy and Childbirth, Psychiatry, Pulmonology, Rehabilitation, and Women’s Health

• Children’s Health: Behavioral Health, Cancer and Blood Disorder, Congenital Heart Disease, Diabetes, Endocrinology, ENT, Gastroenterology, Healthy Weight Center, Medical Genetics, Neonatal Care, Nephrology, Skin Conditions, Sleep Medicine, and Urology

• Spectrum Health App: You can access on-demand video visits through their app, downloaded on Google Play or the App Store. They are in collaboration with TytoCare, and with the help of its portable medical exam kit, you can be sure that the diagnosis you receive is accurate and the treatment plan is appropriate. 

• Travel Consultation: It is always a good idea to have pre-travel consultations with a physician who will review your medical records, recommend necessary vaccinations, prescribe medications you may need on your trip, and render health-related advice about your travel. 

With these options, every medical concern you, a family member, or an employee may have can be accommodated accordingly. 

Locations/Cities Served:

 Fraser Eye

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•   Prescription
•   HIPAA Compliant
•   Board Certified Ophthalmologist, Optometrists, and Pediatric Specialist
•   Insurance

Fraser Eye virtual appointments are available for non-urgent eye conditions only. Free consultations about any surgery or LASIK performed or to be performed by their providers can also be conducted via telemedicine. 

Some of the eye conditions that require immediate medical attention, which they accommodate via telemedicine, are:

• Bump on the Lids
• Chalazion
• Decreased Vision
• Diplopia
• Droopy Eyelids
• Dryness
• Eyelid Swelling
• Fluctuating Vision
• Irritation
• Pain
• Redness
• Tearing

They also offer pediatric eye care for all minor children in your household. The eyes of a child require the special eye of an expert when it comes to vision issues. Some of the childhood eye conditions their pediatric specialist can treat are blocked tear ducts, cataracts, glaucoma, and strabismus. 

Not all eye conditions are qualified for a virtual visit, as some need to be seen personally by the provider to deliver the appropriate care for the patient. This will not be a problem as they have locations in Fraser, Warren, and Port Huron. 

To educate their patients more about eye conditions, they have posted on their website helpful resources that explain some of these conditions. Fraser doctors also engage in research and clinical studies to innovate existing eye treatments. 

Telehealth appointments at Fraser Eye are directly accessible through their website. There are no apps that should be downloaded or accounts that need to be created. You can check in and wait at the virtual waiting room of your appointed doctor.  

Locations/Cities Served:

Telemedicine Resources in Michigan

Many websites present themselves as sources of telehealth information, but reliance on some of these websites sometimes leads to misinformation and confusion to both providers and consumers. When researching this mode of healthcare service, the first thing you should do is make sure that the source is reliable and credible. There are government-owned sites that can provide you with everything telemedicine-related. Below are online resources that are focused on the telehealth practices in Michigan and will surely give you up to date information: 

• Michigan State Medical Society: The MSMS offers free courses about telemedicine covering topics such as technology codes and many others. You can also find a list of telemedicine vendors serving the state of Michigan, video on basic video television overview, and links to other state and federal telehealth resource centers. Other guidelines, policies, and issuances about telemedicine and public health, in general, are also posted on their website. 

• Upper Midwest Telehealth Resource Center: Michigan, together with Illinois, Indiana, and Ohio, belongs to the Upper Midwest Region. The UMTRC serves as the single point of contact for these states and provides various telehealth resources and services such as educational presentations, outreach programs, facilitation, and individualized technical assistance. Their website is accessible to members, and their staff is always ready to help providers with all matters related to telehealth. 

• Center for Connected Health Policy – MI: The CCHP operates under the Public Health Institute. It is also serving as the National Telehealth Policy Resource Center. Here you can find telehealth policies, professional requirements, Medicaid programs and reimbursement, and existing private payer laws in the state of Michigan. They even have policy experts with whom you can send your queries about telehealth. 

• Michigan Department of Health & Human Services: Providing various education, tips, training resources, and toolkits, the MDHHS can help Michiganders better understand, utilize, and access telemedicine services. The site provides discussion on the benefits of availing healthcare services via telemedicine, the basics, and articles for the youth, parents, and caregivers.

• National Association of Social Workers – Michigan Chapter: The NASW-MI Chapter has a section dedicated to telehealth resources. The section mainly talks about telemedicine coverage and reimbursement under various health insurance providers, telehealth procedure codes, regulation updates, and many others. Although the topics mostly revolve around Michigan social workers, some are also applicable to the general practice of telemedicine in the state and could be very useful resources for both practitioners and patients alike. 

• Connected Nation Michigan: The internet or a WiFi connection is one of the essential communication tools needed when availing of telemedicine services. It is the link between the provider and the patient in this type of delivery of healthcare services. Connected Nation Michigan allows individuals to find a WiFi hotspot in their area by simply typing in their location. This is a very helpful tool for residents who do not have access to the internet in their own homes.