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The Eye Institute Of West Florida

Telemedicine – Virtual Eye Appointments

Telemedicine Appointments Now Available

To protect the health and safety of everyone, The Eye Institute of West Florida is now offering telemedicine appointments available through the internet. As long as you have access to the internet, a virtual visit will allow you to have a video-based appointment with one of our providers.

All telemedicine appointments use HIPAA-compliant software and protocols to ensure your personal health information is protected, just as it would be if you were in the office. The Eye Institute uses a program called Doxy.me that is accessible through your computer, laptop, tablet or smartphone.

Important Information!

Call (727) 581-8706 or click to set up your virtual visit with an eye doctor today.

Telemedicine appointments have many advantages to offer:

  • Virtual face-to-face visit from anywhere
  • Eliminates the frustration of commuting
  • Covered by many insurance providers
  • No login, account creation, or app download required
  • Ease of access to care
Virtual eye appointments
Virtual eye appointments

How To Get Started With Your Virtual Visit

The Eye Institute of West Florida uses Doxy.Me for our telemedicine services. There is no application to download nor an account required. Just use your computer or phone's internet browser and go!

1

Directions to get started with your virtual eye visit:

  1. Call (727) 581-8706 or click here to schedule a virtual visit with a participating provider. You must have access to your cellphone or email.
  2. 15 minutes before your scheduled time, you will receive an invite via email or text with the invitation for your virtual eye visit.
  3. Click the link in the message for the secure video call. The link will look something like this https://doxy.me/robertweinstockmd. You will then be moved to our virtual waiting room until the doctor is ready to see you.

Our Available Telemedicine Services

Telemedicine through The Eye Institute of West Florida are available with the following physicians and services. Please note if you are experiencing a sight-emergency, please call us at (727) 581-8706 to schedule an in-office appointment.

Physician

Services

Dr. Winston Cope Basic Eye Care
Dr. Nora Cothran Glaucoma and Basic Eye Care
Tina Crevello, PA-C Dry Eye and Basic Eye Care
Dr. Neel Desai Cataract Evaluations and Cataract Care
Dr. Stacia Goldey Eyelids and Aesthetics Care
Dr. Melinda Gruszka Basic Eye Care
Dr. Richard Hairston Retina Care
Dr. Janie Ho Retina Care
Dr. Douglas Johnson Basic Eye Care
Dr. Leonard Kirsch Retina Care
Dr. Jeffery LaPlume Basic Eye Care
Dr. Priti Panchal Basic Eye Care
Dr. Rebecca Sims Basic Eye Care
Dr. Mary Lou Smith Basic Eye Care
Dr. Robert Weinstock Cataract Evaluations and Cataract Care
Dr. Jory Williams Basic Eye Care

Frequently Asked Questions For Virtual Appointments

You can use our telemedicine service on your computer, laptop, tablet or smartphone. You do not need to download an application. All you need is access to the internet and the most recent version of Google Chrome, Apple Safari or Mozilla Firefox internet browsers.

Our telemedicine service through Doxy.Me requires Google Chrome, Apple Safari or Mozilla Firefox. You will need to download one of those browsers to get started. We recommend Google Chrome. Click here to download the latest version.

Select insurances are providing coverage for telemedicine appointments. Insurances that cover telemedicine include:

  • Aetna
  • Bay Care Plus Medicare Advantage
  • Blue Shield Commercial
  • Blue Shield Medicare
  • Cigna
  • Envolve Ambetter Marketplace
  • Medicare
  • United Health Care
  • Humana Medicare

It is always a best practice to contact your insurance provider when understanding coverage. You can also call our Insurance Specialists at (727) 581-8706 for verification.

First check your email SPAM folder for the email. If you cannot find the invitation there, simply find your physician below and select the link that corresponds to their waiting room. Be sure to only join the online waiting room no more than 15 minutes before your scheduled appointment time.

Physician

Services

Room Link

Dr. Winston Cope Basic Eye Care winstoncopemd
Dr. Nora Cothran Glaucoma and Basic Eye Care noracothranod
Tina Crevello, PA-C Dry Eye and Basic Eye Care tinacrevellopac
Dr. Neel Desai Cataract Evaluation and Cataract Care neeldesaimd
Dr. Stacia Goldey Eyelids and Aesthetics Care stacidagoldeymd
Dr. Melinda Gruszka Basic Eye Care melindagruszkaod
Dr. Richard Hairston Retina Care richardhairstonmd
Dr. Janie Ho Retina Care janiehomd
Dr. Douglas Johnson Basic Eye Care douglasjohnsonod
Dr. Leonard Kirsch Retina Care leonardkirschmd
Dr. Jeffery LaPlume Basic Eye Care jefferylaplumeod
Dr. Priti Panchal Basic Eye Care pritipanchalod
Dr. Rebecca Sims Basic Eye Care rebeccasimsod
Dr. Mary Lou Smith Basic Eye Care marylousmithod
Dr. Robert Weinstock Cataract Evaluations and Cataract Care robertweinstockmd
Dr. Jory Williams Basic Eye Care jorywilliamsmd

Hang tight. Your doctor will select you from the virtual waiting room when he or she is ready to see you. We are trying our best to accommodate all patients in a new way. Because of new technology, internet speeds, and user adoption please expect some delays.

Many insurances do cover telemedicine. The best way to make sure your insurance covers telemedicine is to call your insurance provider. You can also call The Eye Institute of West Florida at (727) 581-8706 and ask to speak to an Insurance Specialist. Please keep in mind that our offices are adapting to this new process and communication may be delayed.

You should join your telemedicine appointment 15 minutes prior to the appointment time. That way if there are any technical hiccups, they can be addressed beforehand. If you are early, just sit tight in the virtual waiting room and the physician will select you when he or she is ready to see you.

You will be seeing the eye doctor you scheduled your visit with. No technicians will be seeing you at this time.

Depending on your unique needs, your appointment with the doctor will last 15-20 minutes.

Co-pays will not be collected at the time of service. The Eye Institute of West Florida will bill your insurance. If your insurance does not cover 100% of the visit, you will receive a bill from us in the mail for the remainder.

Yes. Our telemedicine partner Doxy.Me is fully Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) compliant. The Doxy.Me system does not permanently store Protected Health Information, operates according to the Privacy and Security Rules, and conducts risk analysis and management. For more informationon on HIPAA compliancy at Doxy.Me click here.

Is Telemedicine Right for Me?

Telemedicine is a great way for new and current patients to see an eye doctor for a basic eye exam, dry eyes, allergies, consultations, medication refills, and for general questions about your routine follow-up care.

If you are experiencing pain with or without nausea or sudden loss or change in vision, you should schedule an in-office appointment immediately. For sight-emergencies, please call (727) 581-8706 to schedule.

Trust the experts at The Eye Institute of West Florida for your telemedicine needs. Call (727) 581-8706 or click here to schedule your virtual visit.

Last modified on May 19th, 2021 at 5:25 pm

"Everyone was very nice and professional. They offered coffee and cookies in the waiting room large print magazines to read while waiting. I dealt with 10 staff members during my extended visit and every one of them showed compassion and caring. Can't wait to go back and get my cataract surgery. Thanks Dr Weinstock!"

Lisa – Patient of Dr. Robert Weinstock