Family physicians and family health teams appreciate the value of telemedicine services in providing care to their patients. Physicians prefer when patients utilize telemedicine platforms, over traditional options like emergency rooms or walk-in clinics, as it enables seamless sharing of medical records back to them. Telemedicine services have garnered significant support from physician offices as they alleviate the burden of providing continuous care without affecting their billing practices. The sparrow telemedicine services are privately paid, eliminating any clawbacks or negative impacts on physicians' billings. Family doctors typically experience adverse effects when patients seek care in the public system, such as emergency rooms or walk-in clinics, instead of visiting their office. However, since the service operates as a private service funded by employers, family doctors see no adverse impact on their practice.
De-rostering is something that family medical practices might do when a patient is accessing publicly-covered medical services from another healthcare provider. When a patient has accessed additional services unavailable at their family practice, de-rostering should not be an issue. Typically, the telemedicine services sparrow provides are not available at a family practice. We recommend contacting your family practice directly to inquire about telemedicine policies if you have any concerns.