Telehealth at Viva Medical Center is real continuity care from the same clinical team you would see in our Doral, FL office — delivered over a secure, HIPAA-compliant video platform to patients anywhere in Florida. It is not a one-off prescription mill or a stranger reading symptoms off a script. Your telehealth visit is documented in the same chart, reviewed by the same physician on your follow-ups, and integrated with any in-person care, labs, and imaging we coordinate for you. According to the CDC National Center for Health Statistics, 37% of US adults used telemedicine in the past 12 months in 2021, and HHS reports the figure has held above 30% through 2024 as patients have realized virtual visits work for most routine care. We offer same-day appointments for common acute concerns, scheduled visits for chronic-care follow-ups, lab and imaging review, mental-health check-ins, and prescription renewals where clinically appropriate. We accept Medicare, Medicare Advantage, Oscar Health, Aetna, Cigna PPO, Humana, and UnitedHealthcare for telehealth — Florida insurance parity law (Fla. Stat. § 627.42396) requires plans to cover telehealth at the same cost-share as in-person visits. Bilingual English and Spanish.
What Telehealth at Viva Covers
Our virtual care platform handles a wide range of medical needs — all done securely online with full clinical documentation and continuity of care:
- Live video consultations with board-certified providers — real doctors, real care
- New symptom evaluation — describe what's happening and get clinical guidance
- Medication refills and prescription renewals (where clinically appropriate)
- Lab result reviews — go over your bloodwork with your doctor without another trip in
- Chronic condition monitoring — diabetes, hypertension, asthma, thyroid, and ongoing follow-ups
- Mental health check-ins and counseling referrals
- Pre- and post-procedure consultations
- Specialist referral discussions and coordination
Who Benefits Most from Telehealth
Telehealth isn't just a pandemic-era convenience — it's a permanent and powerful tool for better, more accessible care in Miami-Dade and across Florida. Per the CDC, telehealth use is highest among adults aged 18-64 with chronic conditions and among rural and lower-mobility patients:
- Busy professionals and parents who can't afford a half-day for a 15-minute appointment
- Seniors and patients with limited mobility or transportation challenges
- Miami-Dade residents in areas far from our Doral clinic
- Patients managing chronic conditions who need frequent but brief follow-ups
- Anyone who needs a quick, expert answer without an ER or urgent care visit
- Snowbirds and seasonal residents needing continuity with their regular provider
How a Telehealth Visit Actually Works — Before, During, After
Here is exactly what happens at each step so you know what to expect, end to end:
- Before — booking & intake (5-10 min): Book online at vivacenters.com/appointment or call +1 305 209 0001. Select "Telehealth" as the visit type. You complete a short intake form (current concerns, medication list, pharmacy, allergies). We verify insurance benefits and confirm your visit cost upfront so there are no surprises.
- Day-of — secure link (2 min): About 30 minutes before your appointment, you receive a secure email and SMS with your encrypted video link. No app download, no Zoom — the link opens in your browser on phone, tablet, or computer.
- Check-in (5 min): You enter a virtual waiting room. Our medical assistant joins first to confirm vitals you can self-report (blood pressure if you have a cuff, weight, pulse), review your medications, and document your chief concern.
- Visit (15-25 min): Your physician joins on video. We review your history, ask targeted questions, conduct a visual exam if useful (skin, eyes, throat), discuss your concern, and agree on a plan. For chronic-care visits we typically review labs, adjust medication doses, and set the next follow-up cadence.
- After — care plan & messaging (same day): You receive a written after-visit summary in your patient portal within 2-4 hours. Any e-prescriptions are sent directly to your pharmacy. Lab orders, imaging orders, or specialist referrals are placed by end of day. You can message your provider through the portal between visits for non-urgent questions — typical response time is one business day.
- Follow-up: For chronic-care patients we schedule the next visit before you leave. Most chronic conditions are followed every 4-12 weeks via telehealth, with an annual in-person physical exam to keep the record complete.
What You'll Need for Your Visit
- A quiet, private space where you can speak freely
- A smartphone, tablet, or computer with a working camera and microphone
- A stable internet or cellular connection (Wi-Fi is best; 4G/5G usually works fine)
- Your insurance card and a current list of medications
- Any recent lab results or records you'd like your doctor to review
- A blood pressure cuff or glucometer at home if you are followed for hypertension or diabetes (helpful, not required)
Insurance & Transparent Pricing
Florida is a telehealth parity state — Fla. Stat. § 627.42396 requires private insurers to cover telehealth at the same cost-share as in-person care. Medicare and Medicare Advantage continue to cover telehealth in 2026 under CMS rules that were extended through the end of FY2026 by the Consolidated Appropriations Act:
- Most major insurance plans accepted for telehealth — Medicare, Medicare Advantage, Oscar, Aetna, Cigna PPO, Humana, UnitedHealthcare
- Florida insurance parity — your telehealth visit is covered at the same cost-share as an in-person visit
- Affordable self-pay rates — ask about our telehealth pricing when you call
- No hidden fees — pricing confirmed before your appointment
- Serving patients across all of Miami-Dade County and statewide Florida
When Telehealth Is the Right Fit — And When It Isn't
Telehealth handles most routine care extremely well. There are also clear cases where you should come into the office or be seen sooner. Here is our honest take, in line with AAFP and Florida Board of Medicine telehealth guidance:
- Great fit for telehealth: medication refills, chronic-disease follow-up (diabetes, hypertension, thyroid, asthma), lab review, mental-health check-ins, skin concerns where photos help, cold/flu/UTI symptoms in established patients, post-procedure check-ins, prescription clarifications
- Usually better in person: new patient comprehensive physical, abdominal pain that needs a hands-on exam, suspected ear infection, joint injuries needing palpation, anything that requires hearing your heart and lungs in person, well-child exams, IUD/implant procedures
- Go to the ER, not telehealth: chest pain, shortness of breath at rest, sudden severe headache, signs of stroke (FAST: face droop, arm weakness, speech slurred, time to call 911), severe abdominal pain, suicidal thoughts with a plan, severe bleeding, anaphylaxis
- Controlled substances: Per Florida DEA and DEA federal rules effective 2025, most controlled substances (Schedule II stimulants, benzodiazepines) require at least one in-person evaluation before prescription — we will see you in office first when applicable
Sources
- HHS Telehealth — HIPAA & Healthcare Provider Guidance — U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
- CMS Telehealth Services — Medicare Provider Reference — Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services
- Telemedicine Use Among Adults — United States, 2021 (NCHS Data Brief) — Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
- Florida Statute § 627.42396 — Coverage for Telehealth Services — Florida Legislature
- Florida Medicaid — Telemedicine and Telehealth Coverage Policy — Florida Agency for Health Care Administration
- DEA Telemedicine Rules — Controlled Substance Prescribing — U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Viva Medical Center's telehealth platform HIPAA-compliant?
Yes. All telehealth video sessions at Viva Medical Center are conducted on HIPAA-compliant, encrypted platforms with a Business Associate Agreement (BAA) in place. Your medical information and the content of your visit are fully protected. We never use consumer video apps (FaceTime, regular Zoom, Google Meet) for medical visits. Per HHS HIPAA telehealth guidance, the temporary pandemic-era enforcement discretion ended in 2023 — all current visits use platforms specifically built for healthcare.
What medical conditions can be treated via telehealth?
Telehealth is effective for a wide range of conditions including cold and flu symptoms, urinary tract infections, skin concerns (with photos), medication renewals, mental health check-ins, lab result reviews, chronic disease follow-ups (diabetes, hypertension, thyroid, asthma), and general wellness consultations. Conditions requiring physical examination, procedures, imaging, or hearing your heart and lungs in person will require an in-person visit. Suspected ear infections, abdominal pain, joint injuries, and new-patient comprehensive physicals are usually better handled in office.
Can I get a prescription via telehealth in Florida?
Yes, for most medications. Our physicians can prescribe most medications via telehealth visits in Florida — including antibiotics, antihypertensives, allergy medications, asthma inhalers, thyroid medications, diabetes medications, and many mental health medications — when clinically appropriate. Controlled substances are different: per Florida DEA regulations and federal DEA rules effective 2025, most controlled substances (Schedule II stimulants, benzodiazepines, opioids) require at least one in-person evaluation before they can be prescribed via telehealth. We will see you in office first when controlled-substance prescribing is the right plan.
Is telehealth covered by health insurance in Florida?
Yes. Florida is a telehealth parity state — under Fla. Stat. § 627.42396, private insurers must cover telehealth visits at the same cost-share as in-person visits. Medicare and Medicare Advantage continue to cover telehealth in 2026 under CMS rules extended by the Consolidated Appropriations Act. Florida Medicaid covers telehealth for primary care, mental health, and specialty visits. We accept Medicare, Medicare Advantage, Oscar Health, Aetna, Cigna PPO, Humana, and UnitedHealthcare. Call +1 305 209 0001 to verify your specific plan.
Are audio-only telehealth visits available?
Yes, in specific situations. For patients without reliable video access — older adults, patients with limited broadband, patients with disabilities affecting camera use — we offer audio-only telephone visits where the clinical concern allows. CMS and most commercial insurers cover audio-only visits for established patients with documented reason, though some visit types (initial mental-health intake, new-patient evaluation) still require video. We will tell you which option fits your specific visit when you book.
Can I send messages to my provider between telehealth visits?
Yes. After your first telehealth visit you have access to our HIPAA-secure patient portal where you can message your care team for non-urgent questions — medication clarifications, follow-up on a lab result, scheduling, prior authorization questions. Typical response time is one business day. Messages are documented in your chart for continuity. For urgent issues, call +1 305 209 0001. For emergencies, call 911 or go to the nearest ER — do not message the portal.
Should my first visit be telehealth or in person?
It depends. For an established patient transferring care, telehealth often works fine as a first contact — we review records, build a problem list, and plan. For a brand-new patient with no records, especially for primary care or internal medicine, we usually recommend a first in-person comprehensive visit (60 minutes) so we can do a full physical exam, baseline vitals, and lab draws. After that, most follow-ups can be telehealth. For mental-health or specific acute concerns (medication refill on records already in hand), a first-visit telehealth appointment is fine.
What technology do I actually need? Will my phone work?
A modern smartphone (iPhone 8 or newer, recent Android), tablet, or computer with a camera and microphone works fine. No app download is required — your appointment link opens in your browser. A stable Wi-Fi connection is best; 4G or 5G cellular usually works too. You need a quiet, private space where you can speak about health matters freely. If your tech setup is uncertain, our front desk can run a 2-minute test call before your appointment to make sure your camera, microphone, and link all work.
Do you offer telehealth in Spanish?
Yes. All telehealth visits are available in English or Spanish. Spanish is the primary language of about 70% of households in Miami-Dade per US Census ACS 2022, and bilingual care is core to how we practice — not an add-on. The intake form, video visit, after-visit summary in the patient portal, and ongoing portal messaging are all available in Spanish. Choose your language preference when you book.
How do I schedule a telehealth appointment at Viva Medical Center?
Call +1 305 209 0001 or book online at vivacenters.com/appointment and select 'Telehealth' as your visit type. Same-day appointments are frequently available for established patients with urgent concerns. New telehealth appointments typically schedule within 1-3 business days. You will receive a secure video link by email and SMS about 30 minutes before your visit. No app download required — the link opens in your browser.