OUR EXCLUSIONARY CRITERIA

Telemedicine Management Inc. (TMI) provides telemedicine platform services to independent physicians and physician groups, including Swift Medical Group LLC, TMI Medical Group P.C., TMI Medical Group of NJ, P.C., SMD Medical Group of TX, P.A., TMI Medical Group of CA, P.C., TMI Medical Group of AK, P.C. These physicians are board-certified in Emergency Medicine or Family Medicine. Even so, use of TMI does not replace your primary care physician, and, while physicians on the TMI platorm remain available for follow-up questions by patients, this service is not intended as the sole source for management of certain chronic conditions.

When a doctor determines a prescription is indicated, it can be sent to your preferred local pharmacy for convenient pick-up. However, TMI physicians may not prescribe controlled substances, including narcotics, the sleep aids Ambien or Restoril, benzodiazepines, medications prescribed for weight loss, erectile dysfunction, or psychiatric medications (including refills) such as SSRIs, tricyclics, and antipsychotics.

Further, certain medical services are just not recommended when using telemedicine technologies, and, as such, not all conditions can be diagnosed or treated by engaging only with a physician on the TMI platform. This said, every case is unique and the facts and circumstances call for physicians to use their best judgment and discretion for the care of each patient’s situation, consistent with industry standards and best practices, so the following is for illustration and education only and may or may not apply in any given case. Physicians providing services through TMI collectively developed the following guidelines to assist consumers in evaluating the use of telemedicine to obtain certain medical services.

Should a patient appear to fall within the descriptions set forth below, the physicians on TMI recommend that the consumer seek healthcare assistance from an in-person provider or facility, whether it is their primary care provider, a specialist, or an urgent or emergency care facility.

General:
  • under age 3: Most patients under age 3 cannot be relied upon to adequately describe their symptoms. Children under age three also have more limited reserves, may quickly deteriorate and often require an in-person examination by a doctor.
  • Ages 3 to 5 and unable to localize or describe a problem: When child is unable to describe his or her symptoms, it is important to see a pediatrician or family doctor who can provide an in-person examination to diagnose the patient.
  • Over age 69: Some patients over age 69 suffer from one or more chronic health conditions that may limit a doctor’s ability to safely treat the person with telemedicine.
  • On dialysis: Patients on dialysis may suffer from fluid or electrolyte abnormalities and require laboratory testing as part of their examination.
  • On chemotherapy: Patients on chemotherapy may experience problems, which can require immediate laboratory testing as part of the examination.
  • Has a pregnancy-related problem: A pregnant patient presents as two patients, the mother and her fetus. While the mother is able to describe the symptoms she is experiencing, it is crucial that the treating doctor check out the effects of the mother’s condition on the fetus. This can often only be done with an in-person examination.
  • Ingestion of poison or foreign or toxic substance: These patients often need immediate first aid in neutralizing and/or removing the substance from their system in a hospital emergency department.
  • Fever greater than 104 F or 40 C: A fever at this level may be evidence of an acute process that will require immediate medical intervention with the need for further testing and an in-person examination by a doctor.

Any patient who does not fit any of the above-listed criteria, but presents with any of the following problems may be instructed to go to the nearest hospital emergency room, or seek care from a physician in person, as these symptoms may indicate a serious life-threatening condition:

  • Fever greater than 103 F/39.5 C associated with any of the following:
    • Difficulty breathing
    • Dizziness or confusion
    • Neck pain

    A fever accompanied by any of the foregoing may be evidence of an acute infectious process in the brain or lungs or another part of the body and require immediate evaluation in a hospital emergency department.

  • Head pain with the following characteristics:
    • Worst headache of my life or a very severe headache
    • A personal or family history (blood relative) of subarachnoid hemorrhage or aneurysm
    • Dizziness or confusion
    • Loss of vision
    • Hypertension or diabetes or alcoholism
    • Fever and stiffness of neck
    • Regular use of blood thinner medications, such as Coumadin, Lovenox, Plavix, Warfarin, Heparin
    • Alcoholism

    Headaches that meet any of these criteria may be a sign of bleeding in the brain or impending stroke and require immediate presentation to a hospital emergency department where emergent brain imaging studies may be done to rule out or treat a stroke.

  • Chest pain with the following characteristics:
    • Severe or crushing chest pain
    • Member is 35 years of age or older (with exception of chest pain starting after minor trauma)
    • Hypertension or diabetes
    • Cocaine or crack use
    • Dizziness or confusion
    • Difficulty breathing

    Chest pain that meets any of these criteria may be a sign of heart attack, acute heart disease or damage to the heart muscle and require immediate presentation to a hospital emergency department where emergent heart monitoring and imaging studies may be done to rule out or treat a heart attack or other types of heart disease.

  • Abdominal pain with the following characteristics:
    • Severe pain
    • Dizziness or confusion
    • Blood in vomit or from rectum
    • Chest pain, back or groin pain
    • Previous intestinal obstruction

    Abdominal pain that meets any of these criteria may be a sign of an acute problem with various abdominal organs requiring immediate presentation to a hospital emergency department where emergent testing and imaging studies may be done to rule out or surgically treat a variety of digestive, reproductive, circulatory or other acute problems.

  • Bleeding with the following characteristics:
    • Uncontrolled bleeding anywhere on or in the body
    • Use of blood thinner medication such as Coumadin, Lovenox, Plavix, Warfarin, Heparin
    • Dizziness or confusion
    • Blood from eye or ear

    Bleeding that meets any of these criteria may be a sign of an acute problem with various organs requiring immediate presentation to a hospital emergency department where emergent testing and imaging studies may be done to rule out or medically or surgically treat a variety of digestive, reproductive, circulatory or other acute problems.

  • Difficulty breathing with following characteristics:
    • Persistent difficulty breathing that is moderate or severe
    • Dizziness or confusion
    • Chest pain

    Difficulty breathing that meets any of these criteria may be a sign of an acute problem with the respiratory or circulatory systems requiring immediate presentation to a hospital emergency department where emergent testing and imaging studies may be done to rule out or medically or surgically treat the acute problem.

  • Fall, injury or trauma with following characteristics:
    • Obvious fracture, dislocation, or inability to move a body part
    • Severe pain
    • Pain in the neck or eye
    • Pain in the abdomen
    • Dizziness or confusion
    • Difficulty breathing
    • Uncontrollable bleeding

    A history of trauma that meets any of these criteria requires immediate evaluation in a hospital emergency department where emergent testing, imaging studies and surgery may be necessary to treat these acute problems.

  • Insect bite, sting or allergic reaction
    • Throat or tongue swelling
    • Hives or welts
    • Difficulty breathing
    • Dizziness or confusion
    • Previous severe allergic reaction

    Patients with these symptoms may be undergoing anaphylaxis, the most severe allergic reaction. These symptoms may require a call to 911 and evaluation in an emergency department.

  • High blood pressure
    • Dizziness or confusion
    • Chest pain or difficulty breathing
    • Systolic pressure (top number) greater than 190
    • Diastolic pressure (bottom number) greater than 110

    Patients with high blood pressure and these associated symptoms may be having a severe form of blood pressure leading to stroke or a heart attack and should be seen immediately in an emergency department.

  • High blood sugar
    • Dizziness or confusion
    • Persistent vomiting
    • Chest pain or difficulty breathing
    • Fever greater than 101.5 F / 38.6 C
    • Most recent blood sugar measurement over 400

    Patients with diabetes have little reserve and are more susceptible to major medical problems. If a diabetic has any of these symptoms, they may require an acute evaluation in an emergency department.

  • Shoulder pain
    • Not associated with trauma, injury or arthritis

    Shoulder pain may be a subtle form of a variety of problems including a heart attack. If the pain is not due to arthritis or an injury or trauma, the patient may require an acute evaluation in an emergency department.

Other medical conditions may be excluded at the discretion of physicians using TMI on a case-by-case basis.

Please note: This Exclusionary Criteria is a set of general recommendations developed by physicians using the TMI platform to assist members in seeking the best available care. It is not intended as a definitive or final list nor is it a specific recommendation for any one person. This information may be updated from time to time in accordance with industry best practices and the recommendations of physicians using the TMI platform.