APCC News

Due to uncertainty with COVID-19 Advanced Pulmonary Critical Care continues to remain closed to in person visits.

Telemedicine Visits Available Until End of September 2020

Use the contact form to request a Telemedicine Visit to review and renew medications and to coordinate some tests (if available) through Inova and some additional providers. Telemedicine visits will not be available after the end of September 2020.

Medical Records Release

Requests for release of medical records should include a Fax number, which remains the most secure method to transfer documents within HIPAA guidelines. Please remember to include this information when requesting medical records.

Not Accepting New Patients

APCC cannot accept new patients due to the physical closing of our office.

Answering Service

Telephone calls are being answered by an answering service. Operators are instructed to record Patient Name and Date of Birth, email address, and Smart Phone number. This information is being used to schedule a Telemedicine visit.

Advanced Pulmonary Critical Care has remained closed to patient visits since April 1, 2020 during the Coronavirus pandemic. During this period many patients have completed Telemedicine visits to address medical questions and refill prescriptions.

Patients who have difficulty with a Telemedicine Only medical practice are encouraged to have their individual medical records transferred via secure fax to any other medical provider of their choice.

Fax Numbers Required

Due to HIIPA rules medical records will be faxed to your health care provider. Please use the Telemedicine Request form to provide information for sending medical records, which should include the name of the provider of your choice and the fax number to send the records.

Telemedicine Request

Telemedicine visits are encouraged but not required to have medical records faxed to the provider of your choice. If you do not need a Telemedicine visit please indicate this when submitting medical record request.

Medication Refills still require a Telemedicine visit

New Prescriptions and refills for prescriptions written prior to January 1, 2020 that are running out need a Telemedicine visit. Due to the Coronavirus pandemic refilled prescriptions will be made to last 12-months, as allowed by your Pharmacy Benefits Plan.

Prior Authorizations

Telemedicine visits are necessary to complete online prior authorizations through CoverMyMeds as there are many questions that must be answered by the patient. Be sure to have your Pharmacy Benefits Plan card during these visits.

Advanced Pulmonary is now providing virtual office visits

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic and travel restrictions our physical office will remain closed for the foreseeable future.

All established patients are eligible to participate in virtual office visits using our secure provider – OTTO Health. If you are calling for a future appointment, please leave the following information:

• Full Name
• Date of Birth
• Mobile phone number that accepts text messages with internet link
• Email address to receive invitation (alternative to text message)
• Date and time preference

Virtual office visits will be face-to-face using a compatible smart phone or video equipped desktop, laptop, or tablet computer. Internet access is required. Upon clicking the link provided on your appointment invitation you will be directed to a secure OTTO Health site and can test your equipment.

All virtual appointments will be scheduled in advance. When your appointment is about to start you check in and your health care provider will join the meeting. Your health care record will be updated with information about the visit and submitted to your insurance provider.

Please be patient while we start seeing as many persons as we can using this new technology.

Who can benefit from a Telehealth Visit

• New symptoms related to an established medical condition
• Medication questions, including refill requests
• CPAP Compliance Reporting (requires Face-to-Face visit)

Who should not participate in a Telehealth Visit

• New medical conditions requiring testing or physical examination
• New patients to our practice – never seen as an office patient in the last 10 years
• Acutely ill persons who should go to Urgent Care or the Emergency Room

During the current COVID-19 pandemic we kindly request any person with signs, symptoms or concerns of having contracted coronavirus infection to refrain from visiting our office.

Many patients coming to our office have conditions that make them much more likely to have severe respiratory illness if they are exposed and become infected by coronavirus.

COVID-19 Testing

Testing for COVID-19 is currently available through the Alexandria City Health Department.

We welcome all our patients who are otherwise well or experiencing a mild flare up of a known respiratory condition to keep your appointment as usual.

Our staff continues to use hand sanitizers before and after patient contact.