Scope of Clinical Consultation

Medical Consults & Health Advice — Virtual

OpenDoor Virtual Medicine provides medical consultation and health advice from a board‑certified internal medicine physician. We help you make sense of symptoms, diagnoses, test results, and treatment options—especially when the medical system feels rushed, confusing, or contradictory.

This service is ideal when you want:

  • Clear answers after a clinic, urgent care, or hospital visit

  • Help interpreting labs, imaging reports, and medical records

  • A thoughtful second opinion

  • A safe next‑step plan (what to do now, what to monitor, and when to escalate care)

Our focus is clarity: translating medical language into practical guidance, weighing risks and options, and helping you prepare the right questions for your primary care physician or specialist.

Important: Telemedicine is not emergency care and does not replace an in‑person examination when one is necessary. If you have chest pain, severe shortness of breath, stroke symptoms, severe bleeding, or rapidly worsening symptoms, call 911 or go to the nearest emergency department.

Interpreter support may be used when needed to reduce language or cultural barriers and ensure understanding.

Cardiometabolic Care

Examples: High blood pressure, type 2 diabetes or prediabetes, high cholesterol, obesity, metabolic syndrome
What we do (virtual):

  • Confirm patterns using history and home data (BP, glucose, weight)

  • Optimize medications and lifestyle strategies

  • Monitor trends, side effects, and safety
    Tools: Targeted labs (A1c, CMP, lipids, urine microalbumin), home logs
    Redirect when needed: Chest pain, neurologic deficits, unstable or complex disease

Medication Safety, Polypharmacy & Drug Interactions

Examples: Multiple medications, dizziness or falls, duplicate therapies, kidney‑dose issues, bleeding or QT risk
What we do (virtual):

  • Full medication reconciliation (including OTCs and supplements)

  • Interaction screening and deprescribing when appropriate

  • Safer substitutions and monitoring plans
    Redirect when needed: Severe reactions, anaphylaxis, uncontrolled symptoms

Post–Emergency Department or Hospital Follow‑Up

Examples: Confusing discharge instructions, new medications, abnormal test results
What we do (virtual):

  • Review discharge summaries, labs, and imaging reports you provide

  • Clarify next steps, red‑flag symptoms, and follow‑up timing

  • Coordinate affordable testing and timely referral to appropriate specialists when clinically indicated

Men’s Health & Urologic Symptoms

Examples: Erectile dysfunction, urinary symptoms/BPH screening, kidney stone prevention counseling
What we do (virtual):

  • ED evaluation with safety screening

  • Short refills when clinically appropriate (e.g., sildenafil, tadalafil)

  • Review contraindications and interactions

Respiratory & Allergy Conditions

Examples: Asthma follow‑up, allergic rhinitis, chronic cough triage, stable COPD counseling
What we do (virtual):

  • Symptom‑based assessment and red‑flag screening

  • Optimize inhaler use and trigger control

  • Determine need for testing or in‑person evaluation

Gastrointestinal & Liver Concerns

Examples: GERD, constipation, IBS‑pattern symptoms (selected), fatty liver counseling
What we do (virtual):

  • Screen for alarm features

  • Start or adjust evidence‑based treatment

  • Review medications that may worsen symptoms

Endocrine & Metabolic Conditions

Examples: Hypothyroidism follow‑up, thyroid dose adjustment, vitamin B12 or D issues (selected)
What we do (virtual):

  • Trend labs over time

  • Adjust medications safely

  • Explain what lab results mean

Headache & Neuro‑Adjacent Symptoms

Examples: Migraine or tension headaches, dizziness triage, neuropathy screening (selected)
What we do (virtual):

  • Red‑flag screening

  • Practical treatment and prevention strategies

  • Decide when imaging or urgent evaluation is needed

Musculoskeletal Conditions & Gout

Examples: Osteoarthritis, overuse injuries, gout flares and prevention planning
What we do (virtual):

  • Conservative treatment planning

  • Medication safety review (kidney and GI risk)

  • Prevention strategies and referral guidance

Skin Conditions (Photo‑Supported)

Examples: Eczema, dermatitis, fungal rashes, acne, shingles suspicion
What we do (virtual):

  • Review photos and history

  • Treat common patterns

  • Escalate promptly when findings are concerning

Second Opinions & Clarity Consultations

Examples: Conflicting diagnoses, unclear imaging reports, questions about next steps, new or overwhelming serious diagnoses
What we do (virtual):

  • Review records you provide

  • Explain risks, options, and uncertainties in plain language

  • Support understanding of complex or serious diagnoses

  • Create a clear plan you can take to your PCP or specialist, including timely referral to the appropriate specialist when clinically indicated

Serious Illness, Goals of Care & Decision Support

Examples: New diagnosis of advanced or terminal illness, uncertainty about prognosis, treatment burden concerns, family questions

What we do (virtual):

  • Help patients and families understand complex or overwhelming diagnoses

  • Clarify prognosis, treatment options, and likely outcomes

  • Discuss goals of care, values, and preferences in a thoughtful, patient-centered manner

  • Support advance care planning conversations and preparation for discussions with oncology, specialty, or palliative care teams

  • Recommend timely referral to specialty or palliative care services when appropriate

Language & Cultural Support

Languages spoken: English, Afaan Oromo, Amharic

What we do (virtual):

  • Provide direct care in English, Afaan Oromo, or Amharic without the need for an interpreter

  • Use clear, plain-language explanations and teach-back methods to confirm understanding

  • Deliver culturally respectful, patient-centered care that honors background, values, and preferences

When a Virtual Visit Is Not the Right Choice

Call 911 or seek emergency care immediately if you have:

  • Chest pain or pressure, severe shortness of breath, fainting

  • Stroke symptoms (face droop, arm weakness, speech difficulty)

  • Severe bleeding or allergic reactions

  • Suicidal thoughts or immediate danger to yourself or others

Conditions that usually require in‑person evaluation:

  • New severe abdominal pain, testicular pain, or “worst headache of life”

  • New confusion, weakness, or difficulty walking

  • High fever with stiff neck or signs of dehydration

  • Possible fractures, dislocations, or serious wounds

Not offered in this telemedicine model:

  • Controlled substance prescribing (opioids, benzodiazepines, stimulants)

  • Medico‑legal evaluations or complex disability paperwork

  • Conditions requiring hands‑on examination for safe diagnosis

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