At Orthopedic Institute, innovation is one of our core values. We’re excited to offer Telemedicine appointments during our office hours.

These video appointments make it safer and more comfortable for you to get the medical care you need, during, and after the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak. You’ll get the same personalized attention, expert answers, and treatment plans tailored to you as you do in an in-person visit, but from the comfort of your own home.

What is Telemedicine?

Telemedicine care allows you to be seen and evaluated through real-time audio/video communication with your care provider from the comfort of your home. We offer Telemedicine appointments for a wide variety of orthopedic needs, including follow-up after surgery and initial diagnosis of acute injuries.

Common Reasons to Utilize Telemedicine:

• Joint pain
• Sprains, strains or other orthopedic concerns
• Routine post-operative care
• Physical therapy and occupational therapy consultations

How Does Telemedicine Work?

We’ve made it very simple and will guide you through every step of the process.

• Phone Call: Simply call our main office at 605-331-5890.
• Screening: We will discuss your medical needs and determine if you’re a candidate for Telemedicine care. If your need is considered urgent/acute, we will help direct you to one of our physical locations near you but may utilize Telemedicine for some of your care.
• Schedule a Telemedicine Appointment: We will schedule your Telemedicine appointment at a time convenient for you, and walk you through everything you need to do to prepare.
• Telemedicine Visit: Your Telemedicine visit will be with an Orthopedic Institute care provider, utilizing a secure, HIPPA compliant video call using the Zoom platform.

Preparing for Your Telemedicine Visit

Scheduling Your Appointment:

• Phone Call: Call the Orthopedic Institute’s main office at 605-331-5890 to schedule a Telemedicine appointment. Please mention you’re interested in a Telemedicine visit.
• Your Information: When you call to schedule a Telemedicine appointment, you will need to provide the following information:
  • Your name, date of birth, address, phone, and email contact information
  • Description of your injury/medical need
  • Insurance card
• Billing: This service, while conveniently conducted over video, is billed as an office visit. As with on-site visits, we will file claims to your insurance company. Co-pays/deductibles/co-insurance may apply to your situation. However, due to the COVID-19 public health emergency, many payers (insurance companies) are waiving member cost-sharing amounts. If you have any questions about the cost of services, please contact your insurance provider. To make a payment, click here: Orthopedic Institute Bill Pay
• Device Preparation:You may connect to the Zoom meeting in your browser window, or download Zoom to your device. Check your system requirements and test your computer, tablet, or smartphone device to confirm that your device is compatible.
  • Zoom Test Meeting – Test Zoom Meeting
  • Zoom Desktop System Requirements – Check compatibility & system requirements for Zoom
  • Zoom Download to your desktop – Download Zoom for a Desktop
  • Zoom for iPhone – Zoom for iPhone
  • Zoom for Android phone – Zoom for Android phone

Before Your Appointment:

• Upon scheduling your appointment, you will receive the following email messages from Orthopedic Institute:
  • Appointment Details:This email will include instructions for downloading and setting up the Zoom software and instructions for logging into your Telemedicine Care session: Meeting Link and Meeting ID.
  • Patient Intake Forms:This email will include links to pre-appointment forms that all new patients, or existing patients with new problems, need to complete. The email will come from Orthopedic Institute with a subject line, “An Important Medical Health Form For You.” All forms are to be returned to our office at: registration@ortho-i.com
• We strongly recommend patients test the Zoom technology on their mobile devices or computers before their appointments. – Test Zoom Meeting
• Make sure you have a reliable Internet connection.
• Plan to join the visit at least fifteen minutes before your appointment time.
• Find a quiet, well-lit place so your provider can hear and see you.

During Your Appointment:

• To join your Telemedicine visit, click your Zoom Meeting Link found in your email to automatically launch the Zoom meeting, or go directly to Zoom.us and enter the Meeting ID listed in your email. Your meeting link will look similar to this: https://zoom.us/j/XXXXXXXXXX
• The meeting will start once your provider arrives. Until then, please wait patiently.
  • You will know you are in the right spot when the doctor’s name appears in the Zoom meeting, and a message appears stating, “a nurse has been notified you have arrived.”
  • Your Telemedicine exam waiting room is similar to the waiting room in our office, which means that while we have the best intentions to stay “on schedule,” your visit may not always start on time. The nurse will do their best to communicate any extended wait times.
  • Once the visit begins, follow the prompts to join the audio by your device.
    • In the bottom left corner, make sure the microphone icon does not have a red line through it. If it does, click it to “Unmute.”
    • Also, in the bottom left corner, if the camera icon has a red line through it, click it to “Start Video.”
    • If you experience issues, we recommend you Zoom Help Center
  • Upon completion of the visit, please be sure to close out the connection for your privacy and security altogether.

Helpful Resources 

Below you will find useful, step-by-step guides and instructions for getting started with your Telemedicine Care.

• Zoom Test Meeting – Test Zoom Meeting
• Zoom Help Center – Zoom Help Center
• Zoom Desktop System Requirements – Check Zoom compatibility & system requirements
• Zoom FAQs – Zoom Frequently Asked Questions
• Zoom Download to your desktop – Download Zoom for a Desktop
• Zoom for iPhone – Zoom for iPhone
• Zoom for Android phone – Zoom for Android phone

Helpful tips:

Having the following available during the session would be useful (but not required):

• Headphones or earbuds
• A power plug for your computer/smartphone if the device is not fully charged
• Set up in a private, quiet area with a strong Wi-Fi signal or internet connection

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Will my insurance cover this, or will I have a Co-pay?

This service, while conveniently conducted over video, is billed as an office visit. We recommend patients check with their insurance provider in advance to confirm if Telemedicine visits are covered within their plans and determine patient financial responsibility. Telemedicine care billing utilizes the same codes and amounts used if you were face-to-face with your provider (e.g., office visits codes). Co-pays/deductibles/co-insurance may apply to your situation. However, due to the COVID-19 public health emergency, many payers (insurance companies) are waiving member cost-sharing amounts. If you have any questions about the cost of services, please contact your insurance provider.

What if I’m not tech-savy?

You do not need to be tech-savvy to conduct a Telemedicine video appointment; anyone can use it. Please refer to the “Helpful Resources” section above, or visit the Zoom Help Center, which has numerous guides, how-to videos, and more.

What are the benefits of Telemedicine Care?

• Convenience
• Faster care and attention
• No travel time or transportation costs
• Avoiding waiting rooms
• Reduced time spent in the clinic
• No person-to-person contact

What if I need to change or cancel my appointment?

• If you need to re-schedule, or are running more than 5 minutes late to your appointment, please call us at 605-331-5890.

Can you help me set up the Zoom software?

• Please visit the Helpful Resources section above. If you are experiencing technical difficulties, we recommend visiting the Zoom Help Center, which has numerous guides, how-to videos, and more.

What if I’m having trouble joining the meeting, or my provider hasn’t shown?

• Please refer to the contact information in your appointment details email.

Is Telemedicine care private and secure?

• Your visit is private, confidential, and secure. We use technology that meets all HIPAA compliance regulations for your protection.

Can someone join me during my Telemedicine Care visit?

• Parents/guardians of minors are needed on visits unless we receive consent to see them without parents/guardians present. The patient may share their code for their care, with limited family members or caseworkers if necessary. At the time of the appointment, they need to let the nurse know so they can admit the other person to the virtual meeting.

What do I do if I have and urgent medical need?

• OI Now continues to serve your urgent orthopedic care needs, such as fractures, sprains, and strains. If your injury can’t wait, avoid the ER and get expert care at OI Now in Sioux Falls, Yankton, and Brookings. No appointment is necessary. However, hours at our locations are subject to change during this COVID-19 situation. You will find current hours here on our website. Orthopedic Institute OI Now Hours

Is Physical Therapy or Occupational Therapy available via Telemedicine Care?

• We are in the process of rolling this out. Most patients who have started physical therapy or occupational therapy at Orthopedic Institute will be able to continue with physical and occupational therapy sessions via Telemedicine care. To learn more, contact us at 605-331-5890. Physical Therapy can be contacted directly at 605-977-6845. Occupational Therapy can be contacted directly at 605-332-4263.

What happens after my Telemedicine Care visits?

• All patients will receive a patient satisfaction survey via email after their Telemedicine visits. If you need follow-up, such as X-rays, MRI, physical therapy, occupational therapy, etc., the care team will coordinate directly with the patient.