Independent Health Foundation and Teladoc join efforts to provide medical relief for all Western New Yorkers
Independent Health Foundation and Teladoc join efforts to provide medical relief for all Western New Yorkers during winter storm emergency
Teladoc to donate medical consultations to residents in affected area
Amherst, N.Y., November 21, 2014 – In response to the unprecedented winter storm affecting parts of Western New York, Independent Health Foundation and Teladoc announced they will offer free consultations with Teladoc's network of physicians to Western New Yorkers who are unable to reach their primary care physicians. The free service will be available through Sunday, November 30. If the weather emergency persists the service will be extended accordingly.
According to Michael W. Cropp, M.D., president of the Independent Health Foundation, Teladoc provides timely access to high-quality medical consultations with U.S. board-certified, state-licensed physicians who can diagnose and treat many non-emergent medical issues. The consultations are available via phone, secure online video or mobile applications 24 hours a day. Teladoc is not intended for emergency care.
"While we certainly recommend people make every effort to contact their own physician first, we realize there are some situations when this may not be possible, because of widespread closures of doctors' offices due to the lingering effects of this storm," said Dr. Cropp. "In times of need, Western New Yorkers have a history of coming together to help one another, and we are pleased our neighbors now have a safe way to speak with a physician if they cannot reach their doctor."
"We see how quickly this storm has affected a community, leaving so many stranded and unable to reach their doctors, and we wanted to help," said Jason Gorevic, Teladoc CEO. "One thing we know Teladoc can do well, and quickly, is provide remote, quality health care. With Teladoc, those in need of help don't have to leave their homes to get care from a doctor. We're proud to donate our service and work with the Independent Health Foundation to make this possible."
To access the Teladoc service, Buffalo-area residents can call 1-800-Teladoc (1-800-835-2362) or visit www.teladoc.com/helpwny to request a physician consult. For emergency and life-threatening issues, residents should call 911.
If a prescription is required following the medical consult, individuals should confirm their pharmacy is open.
Teladoc strictly adheres to all HIPAA regulations and will not share any Protected Health Information with the Independent Health Foundation, Independent Health or any other third party without consent.
About Independent Health Foundation
Established in 1992, the Independent Health Foundation works to improve the health and well-being of Western New York residents through awareness, prevention, education and other programs focused on community health priorities. For more information on the Foundation's activities, visit www.independenthealth.com/foundation .
About Teladoc
Founded in 2002, Teladoc is committed to expanding access to health care and is the nation's first and largest provider of telehealth services with 8 million members and more than 250,000 consults annually. Teladoc provides 24/7 access to affordable, high-quality medical care for adults and children experiencing non-emergency medical issues via phone, secure online video or mobile app. Through a directly-managed network of U.S.-based, board-certified physicians, Teladoc delivers a 95 percent patient satisfaction rate with an average response time of 16 minutes. Teladoc is the first and only telehealth provider to receive certification from the National Committee for Quality Assurance (NCQA) for its physician credentialing process, scoring 100 percent. Recognized by Fast Company as "One of World's Most Innovative Companies in Health Care" in 2013, Teladoc partners with health plans, corporations, organizations and patients that seek accessible and affordable high-quality medical care. For more information, please visit www.Teladoc.com .