What is a Virtual Encounter?

Virtual encounters are simply doctor-patient interactions that occur via e-mail, phone, or any other method where the patient does not come into the clinic. They offer providers an alternative way to document an encounter with a patient regarding health issues that do not require face-to-face contact, such as prescription refill requests, creating a record of pathology diagnoses, or routine follow-ups of chronic diseases.

They can be accessed via a patient's chart in the EHR, in the Encounters section, under the Virtual and All tabs. Virtual Encounters can also be created from this screen by tapping on "New Virtual Encounter."

Uses/Functionality:

1. Sending a prescription refill for a patient who is not on the schedule

• When a patient calls and is requesting a refill of a medication or a refill request comes in via fax, create a virtual encounter to re-prescribe that medication
• For a step-by-step breakdown of how to refill prescriptions via Virtual Encounter, please see this article.

2. Signing off an order in Pending Review

• When a provider signs off on a pending review with a diagnosis added, this will automatically create a virtual encounter. 
• For a detailed breakdown of the Pending Review inbox folder, please see this article. 

3. Remedying an Incorrect Diagnosis on a Signed Pathology Report

• If a provider has reviewed and signed off on a pathology report but realizes afterward that an incorrect clinical impression was added, they can change the diagnosis from the virtual encounter that was created.
• For a step-by-step breakdown of how to change an incorrect diagnosis, please see this article.

4. Entering an established patient's medical information

• If your practice is established and has one or many patients that will be seen for the first time in EZDERM, you can manually enter in their medical information ahead of time via a virtual encounter. 

Please Note:

Virtual Encounters are always non-billable encounters (meaning that insurances cannot be billed for them) and they cannot be signed off. 

The only way a patient's financials can be changed/updated through Virtual Encounters is via Simple Charges. You are unable to associate patient payments with encounters or appointments for Virtual Encounters, so only linked simple charges can be tied to patient payments.