Trinity Family Physicians Offers Telehealth

Coronavirus Brings Trinity Family Physicians’ Televisits to Forefront of Practice

By Deborah Bostock-Kelley

From acne, diabetes management, immunizations, depression, skin cancer screenings and treatment, to well-woman visits, and nutritional counseling for weight loss, Trinity Family Physicians literally has a patient covered, A to Z. A list a half of a page long on their website showcases the vast number of issues they treat.

Little did board-certified family physicians of Trinity Family Physicians, husband and wife team, Dr. Stephanie Eldridge and Dr. Amir Shirmohammad (Dr. Shirmo) know that adding convenient telemedicine services to accommodate their patients’ schedules would become their main connection to them in early 2020.

Serving elementary schoolers to senior citizens in Trinity and beyond since 2007, the doctors knew same-day and next-day appointments, early morning and late hours would help their patients, as well adding two Physicians Assistants, Rachel Azzarelli and Ian Simpson would increase their availability.

“Our patients have been really happy with our Physician Assistants and we are proud to have them. We continue to increase our availability in the practice because of having the providers working under our direction and close supervision,” said Dr. Shirmo.

But the doctors could never have foreseen a pandemic making their new, state-of-the-art telemedicine services absolutely paramount to the practice.

“Who could predict telemedicine wouldn’t be just for comfort and convenience, but a pandemic? When the pandemic occurred, we were able to transition almost all of our patients to televisits immediately. Patients were able to get care without a lapse in their healthcare. Our staff did an incredible job to make that transition. We really have been keeping the momentum going as best as we can despite this pandemic,” said Dr. Shirmo. “As we enter the next phase of getting people back out into the workforce, I think it important for people to realize that we’re still here and we’re still able to care for them through the televisits, as well as in the office.”

Though an initial in-office appointment is needed to enroll in telemedicine – with two types available,

Husband and wife team, Dr. Stephanie Eldridge (right) Physicians Assistants, Rachel Azzarelli (left) and Ian and Dr. Amir Shirmohammad (Dr. Shirmo) (left), Board Simpson (right) Certified owners of Trinity Family Physicains. information that came from immune-compromised, it’s not a monthly subscription or exposing themselves a trusted source. With our up to our neighbor to take the service or as-needed - the potentially to other people background, who better proper precautions, but it’s virtual appointment is as who might be sick in different to talk about this than Dr. up to the entire community simple as downloading an ways.” Eldridge and myself? We to take proper precautions. app, scheduling the tele- If it is medically necessary started with instructional That neighbor may be the appointment and connecting that a patient does need videos how to connect with first person to get it, but they with the doctors via laptop, to come into the office, the us through televisits, then it will not be the only person. desktop, or smart device in doctors and their team have led to discussing how patients If you don’t think that virus a private setting with a WIFI increased the frequency should be proactive. We have isn’t going to go around and signal. of their cleaning to ensure patients who are immune- come back to you and your

For those who need to everything a patient comes compromised, so we started loved ones, you’re mistaken. visit the practice, the doctors in contact with is thoroughly putting out these YouTube We all bear that burden of and their team are following disinfected. Following the videos. We were astonished at responsibility to be there for all necessary procedures to recommendations provided how well they were received each other.” protect their patients. by the Centers for Disease and how quickly they spread

“We’ve taken extra Control, they have expanded and climbed. We posted the Trinity Family Physicians measures ever since the their waiting room and videos on a weeknight at is located at the corner pandemic,” said Dr. Eldridge. removed chairs to comply 11pm,” said Dr. Shirmo. of Trinity Blvd. and Duck “We’re screening people with social distancing. Patients Dr. Eldridge explained Slough Blvd. at 1817 over the phone to make sure are asked to bring their own that when posted to their Cypress Brook Dr., Suite they don’t have any upper or pen and magazine to avoid Facebook page, by morning, 101 in Trinity. The hours lower respiratory symptoms potential transmission of the they had thousands of views are Mon-Thurs 8:00-6:00 (fever, cough, sore throat, Coronavirus. on informational videos on p.m., Friday 8:00-5:00 p.m. runny nose, headache, etc). If As so much misinformation how you can protect yourself, For more information, call they have those symptoms or is online and televised what should you do when (727) 834-8377 or visit their have been exposed, we ask regarding the Coronavirus, the going out, should you go to Facebook page at facebook. that they definitely set up a doctors, both with Masters in the doctor, etc. com/trinityfamilyphysicians, televisit. We really don’t have Public Health in Epidemiology, “What inspired the website at www. the sick patient traffic in the (the study of epidemics) YouTube videos was we were trinityfamilyphysicians. office.” started a YouTube channel that trying to calm people down, com or YouTube channel at

Dr. Shirmo added, “They’re streamed on their Facebook be the voice of reason, and https://www.youtube.com/ still getting their healthcare page. give them some perspective channel/UCpFMVqaVL_ but through a different avenue “We felt we needed to of what to expect,” said Dr. tvlskTvLH_Jew. without exposing other people give our patients unbiased Shirmo. “If our neighbor is For Advertising Info 813-928-6124 I info@nnlflorida.com or visit tbnewsandlifestyles.com DECEMBER 2020 13