Cranford Family Practice

Online Housecalls

Using our secure access system will save you time and allow you to interact easily with our office. Our on-line house calls (e-visits) allow you to have certain medical problems cared for without needing to come to the office.

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10 Foods For Longevity

What is an Online Housecall (e-Visit)?

Online Housecalls (e-Visits) are structured medical visits that are done over the Internet. To ensure privacy and confidentiality, a secure log-on ID is required. To do that, you must first register and be given a user name and password.
An Online Housecall is initiated by the patient, who answers a series of structured questions based on the nature of the problem (e.g. cold. diabetes, hypertension). The doctor then reviews the information and makes recommendations or requests additional information. The encounter becomes part of your medical record. When the Online Housecall (e-Visit) is completed, the patient is charged a fee ($30) for the encounter.
Online Housecalls have the following benefits:

The patient can initiate an Online Housecall any time and any place as long as there is internet connection and the patient has his/her username and password available.
The patient does not need to take time out to come to the doctor's office.
The patient receives feedback promptly (within one business day).

Online Housecalls are good for periodic monitoring of certain chronic illnesses and for some acute illnesses such as colds, sinus infections, allergies. It is not appropriate for conditions where physical examination is necessary or if immediate attention is required and it does not substitute for the need for periodic examinations. We value the personal time that we spend with our patients and the opportunity to get to know them. On the other hand, we also value our patients' time and realize that for certain conditions virtual office visits may provide additional convenience in what is already a hectic life style.

Frequently Asked Questions:

Are Online Housecalls covered by insurance? At this time they are not. Nationally, some health plans are experimenting with covering them, but so far none in New Jersey has done so.
I have Medicare. Can I participate in Online Housecalls? Until we get clarification from Medicare, we are not offering this services to Medicare beneficiaries.
What happens if the doctor decides that I need to come into the office to complete the visit? You will not be charged for the Online Housecall.
How am I billed for this? Your credit card is automatically debited at the end of the visit unless the doctor determines that you need to be examined in the office.
Can I use a medical savings account for this service? Yes.

Gardasil

Gardasil is a new and a landmark immunization against the HPV (Human Papilloma) virus. This virus is the cause for genital warts and, more importantly, cervical cancer. Immunization against HPV holds the promise of virtually eradicating cervical cancer. The immunization is given in a series of 3 shots over 6 months. It is indicated for all girls and women ages 12-26 who have not had exposure to the HPV virus. Because this immunization is not effective once a person has become infected with the HPV virus, it is recommended that the immunization be given as soon as possible.
The immunizations are costly. You may want to check with your health plan as to whether they cover the shots. However, the benefits of preventing cervical cancer are huge!

Herpes Zoster (Shingles) Vaccine

There is a new vaccine out (Zostavax) which is designed to prevent shingles. Shingles is a painful condition that is the result of partial immunity to the Chicken Pox virus (Herpes Zoster). It results in an infection in the root of a nerve and causes pain and a blistering rash. Once a person has shingles, treatment is very difficult and the person may get recurrences. Zostavax is indicated for all individuals over the age of 60 who are not immunocompromised. It is not clear if there is any benefit to giving it to people who have had shingles in the past. It is not covered by Medicare Part B, but is reimbursable by Medicare Part D and other insurers. We charge $175 for the vaccine and $18 for the administration. We will supply you with the forms for reimbursement. One shot is all that is necessary.

Web-Based Communication for Patients

Here are several resouces to help patients take more control of their health care:

Ask me 3: Stresses 3 important questions all patients should ask their health professionals to improve understanding
Communicating with your doctor: The PACE System
Smart Patient Guide from the American Academy of Family Physicians
Five steps to safer health care from the Agency for Health Care Research and Quality
Medline plus- lists links to a number of sites containing patient information preparing for medical interactions

Avoiding Medical Errors

Even in the best of medical environments, healthcare is highly complex with a lot of individualization of care. Many people are involved in your healthcare. Although all good health systems and healthcare providers try to have systems that minimize the likelihood of a medical error, there is always the possibility that an error can occur. No system is fail safe! That is why we need out patients to be our partners in watching out to make sure that errors do not occur, or if one does occur, that it is caught quickly. Make sure that you agree with the treatment plan that is being proposed and if you have concerns, please tell us. A useful publication on what patients can do to prevent medical errors is "20 tips to help prevent medical errors" patient fact sheet

Board Certification

What is a board certified physician?

A physician is board certified after a two stage process. Following the completion of formal training in a specialty or subspecialty, the physician must then pass the examination offered by that specialty’s national board. There are 24 specialties recognized by the American Board of Medical Specialties. To be eligible to sit for the certification exam of the American Board of Family Medicine, one must complete a three year residency program. Dr. Eidus is a graduate of the Overlook Family Practice Residency Program in Summit, NJ.

The American Board of Family Medicine was established in 1969.(www.abfm.org) Dr. Eidus first became board certified in 1977. To maintain board certification status, the ABFP requires its physicians (also called diplomats) to sit for a recertification exam every 7 years. In order to be eligible to take this exam, one must average at least 50 hours of continuing medical education per year.

Dr. Eidus passed his latest exam in 2001. To maintain his board certification, he will next take the recertification exam in 2008.

Research Primer

Many people are often confused when they hear about different types of medical research. There are different terms that are used with different meanings and significances. This is a mini-primer to help you when you read about various reports.

Lipid (Cholesterol Testing)

We have the ability to screen and also monitor cholesterol levels with in-office testing. We measure total cholesterol, HDL ("good cholesterol"), LDL ("bad cholesterol"), and triclycerides. In office testing results are available in 3 minutes and allows us to make treatment adjustments or begin dietary counseling without requiring an additional visits. Reimbursement depends on your health insurance. This service is covered by Medicare.