How Telehealth Visits Work in Florida

A telehealth visit is a live video visit with a licensed provider, done from your phone, tablet or computer. At Padgett Medical Center, you must be physically in Florida during the visit and show a valid Florida driver's license or state ID on camera. Weight-loss visits, phentermine visits and ADHD follow-ups can all be done by telehealth.

At Padgett Medical Center in Tampa, personalized compounded semaglutide starts at $149 a month and personalized compounded tirzepatide at $229 a month at the starting dose. Book online with a card on file and take 15% off your first month of medication, and your $100 visit is free when you start medication. Nothing is charged when you book. See every dose and price.

What does Florida law say about telehealth?

Florida's telehealth law, section 456.47 of the Florida Statutes, holds a telehealth provider to the same professional standard of practice as a provider who sees patients in person in Florida. It also allows the provider and the patient to be in separate locations.

Section 456.47 defines telehealth as the use of telecommunications technology to provide health care services such as assessment, diagnosis, treatment and monitoring, and says the term does not include email or fax. It lets a provider use telehealth to perform a patient evaluation, and it requires telehealth care to be documented in your medical record to the same standard as in-person care. The Florida Department of Health notes the law took effect on July 1, 2019.

Why do you have to be in Florida during the visit?

Your Padgett provider is licensed in Florida, and Padgett's telehealth visits are for patients who are physically in Florida at the time of the visit. Where you live doesn't change that: where you are during the call is what counts.

If you'll be out of state on the day of your visit, reschedule it for when you're back, or book an in-person visit at the Tampa clinic instead. Planning ahead matters most for monthly follow-ups, so check your travel dates when you book.

Why is your Florida ID checked on camera?

Checking a valid Florida driver's license or state ID on camera confirms who you are at the start of the visit. It's required for every Padgett telehealth patient, so have it in reach before you join.

Make sure the ID is current and that the camera can read it clearly. If the name on your booking doesn't match your ID, fix it before the visit. If you don't have a Florida driver's license or state ID, ask about an in-person visit at the Tampa clinic.

What do you need for a telehealth visit?

You need a phone, tablet or computer with a working camera and microphone, a steady internet connection, a quiet private space, your Florida ID and a list of your current medications. Five minutes of setup beforehand makes the visit smoother.

Your medication list should include supplements and doses. Sit somewhere with good light so your provider can see you, and use headphones if others are nearby. Write down your questions. MedlinePlus makes the point that, just like an in-person visit, a virtual visit goes best when you're prepared and communicate clearly with your provider.

Which Padgett services can you get by telehealth?

Weight loss and phentermine can be started and continued by telehealth anywhere in Florida. Adult ADHD care is different: the first visit is always in person at the Tampa clinic, and monthly follow-ups can then be by telehealth while you're in Florida.

For personalized compounded semaglutide or tirzepatide, the telehealth visit covers the same ground as an in-person one. For phentermine, you send a photo of a recent blood pressure reading before the visit, because blood pressure is checked at every monthly visit; MedlinePlus lists high blood pressure and heart disease among the conditions to tell your provider about. The phentermine first month is $127.40 with a card on file. For adult ADHD, the new patient visit is $169 with a card on file (35% off $260), and follow-ups are $136.

What happens during a telehealth visit?

You join at your appointment time, show your Florida ID on camera and talk with Morgan Colee, PA. Morgan reviews your health history, current medications and goals, answers your questions and, if treatment fits, builds your plan with you.

At follow-ups, you go over your progress, side effects and how you feel, and your plan or dose is adjusted when it makes sense. If your provider decides telehealth isn't right for your situation, you may be asked to come in to the Tampa clinic at 6904 W. Linebaugh Ave.

What are the limits of telehealth?

Telehealth can't replace every in-person exam, and it isn't for emergencies. If you have a medical emergency, call 911 rather than booking or messaging.

MedlinePlus notes that in some cases a provider may not be able to make the right diagnosis without examining you in person, and that technology problems such as a lost connection can happen. That's why the ADHD evaluation happens in person, and why your provider may ask you to come in when it's needed.

How do you book a telehealth visit at Padgett?

Book online and choose telehealth as your visit type. Nothing is charged when you book, and booking with a card on file gets the card-on-file price.

Want to ask questions first? Pick a free 15-minute phone consultation with our medical staff. It isn't a provider visit, and nothing is prescribed on the call. For weight loss, book your visit. To compare in-person and telehealth options, read medical weight loss near Tampa.

Personalized compounded semaglutide and personalized compounded tirzepatide are compounded drugs that have not been approved by the FDA. They have not been reviewed by the FDA for safety, effectiveness, or quality. FDA-approved products containing semaglutide and tirzepatide are available. Individual results vary.

This article is educational and is not medical advice. Talk with a licensed provider about your own health, medications and treatment options.