Updox: Getting Started

 

  1. You should receive an email titled “New Portal Account with Ravalli Family Medicine”. It will contain a username, a temporary password, and a link.
  2. Click the link in the email and use the provided username and temporary password to sign in to Updox. Type the username EXACTLY as it appears in the email, even if your name or a word is misspelled. You can change your username later if necessary.
  3. Copy and paste the initial password from the email into the password box and log in.
  4. You will be immediately prompted to change your password. Change it to something only you know and that you will remember.
  5. You will be required to verify your identity by entering your birthdate. It must match the birthdate we have listed in your medical chart.
  6. You should now have access to Updox!

Don’t know how to copy and paste? Just highlight the temporary password provided in the email. Right-click over it and on the drop down menu that appears, click “copy”. Then return to the login page opened from the link and right-click in the password box. Choose “paste” from the drop down menu. Your temporary password should appear in the box EXACTLY as it appears in the email.

We Are Changing EHR’s

ATTENTION ALL PATIENTS OF RAVALLI FAMILY MEDICINE

Ravalli Family Medicine is changing Electronic Health Records (EHR) in early March. This new program will provide us with many advancements, including a much better patient portal for you to see your medical records. Our current portal is not functioning at this time, but we will provide information about the new portal once it is up and running. Please bear with us during this transition period. All of your important medical records will automatically be transitioned to the new program. Thank you in advance for your patience and we look forward to continuing to be your advocate for better health.

HAPPY HOLIDAYS!

We wanted to reach out to the patients of Ravalli Family Medicine to wish you all a wonderful holiday season.  It is also a great time to update you on the happenings in our office.

COVID-19:  We continue to perform drive up testing for COVID-19, in office evaluation of sick patients in a safe environment, and provide COVID-19 vaccinations.  We anticipate all of these activities will continue in 2022, but we certainly hope most people will get vaccinated so we can decrease the health care burden this disease is placing on our facility and the rest of the community.

STAFFING:  Ravalli Family Medicine was NOT immune to the staffing struggles that all businesses have faced in 2021.  We also experienced a decrease in revenue due to lack of visits during 2020.  These factors have led us to accept a smaller staff than we have had in previous years.  As a patient of our office, we respectfully request you remain aware of how hard our staff are working when contacting them.  We want to remind you of the following:

  • Always communicate FIRST with your pharmacy about refills as they can easily send an electronic refill request that can be addressed MUCH faster than a request made with a phone call.
  • We have 48 hours to respond to a refill request, unless they are made over long weekends, etc.
  • Look at your prescription bottle BEFORE you make that request. If your prescription is over a year old, you may need a visit.  All patients must be seen at least annually if they are on medication.  Save yourself time and set up an office visit when you need those refills.
  • Leaving multiple phone messages does not help get your questions answered quickly. The time it takes to listen to multiple messages takes time away from addressing those issues.
  • We STRONGLY encourage you to utilize Updox, our online portal to your medical record. We are aware of its limitations, but direct messaging to your provider is easy to do and can allow a seamless communication between patients and providers.
  • We also encourage you to utilize our telehealth service. This is a great way to communicate with your provider from the comfort of your own home.
  • Lastly, rude behavior is NEVER acceptable and can be grounds for dismissal from our office.

We opened this office in 2004 and jokingly refer to it as our third child.  We love the community of patients that we care for and consider them family.   We appreciate your faith in us and look forward to providing medical care for the valley for years to come.

Dr. Lawrence Brouwer and Dr. Kathleen Harder-Brouwer

COVID-19 Vaccination Update 04/22/2021

Ravalli Family Medicine is still approved to be a provider of the COVID-19 vaccine. The vaccine is currently open to all individuals 16 and older. Please contact our office via phone at 406-363-5104 or email at COVIDVACCINATION@ravallifamilymedicine.com for an appointment.

COVID-19 Vaccination Update!

BREAKING NEWS!
Ravalli Family Medicine has applied to be a provider for the Covid-19 vaccine. HOWEVER, we don’t have the vaccine yet. None of the organizations who have applied to be vaccine providers have the vaccine at this time. The agencies that received the first shipments have already distributed them or have scheduled patients for inoculation. We need YOU to help US make this process go smoother. Our office, and the other organizations that are planning to give the vaccine, are working on ways to schedule appointments in a fashion that will not crash phone systems or computer systems. With regards to THIS office, please respect the following:
DO NOT CALL OUR OFFICE AT THIS TIME to inquire about getting the vaccine. We will post information as soon as we know something concrete.
If you have the opportunity to get the vaccine elsewhere, such as a place of work, please do it! We are all getting the same vaccine and there is no competition for who gives the most. The competition is beating the virus.
We are all following the same playbook with regards to who is eligible to be vaccinated at this time: according to the most up to date health alert, dated January 6th, Ravalli County currently in phase 1B of vaccination.
Even though we are entering the vaccination phase, we are still not out of the woods and need to follow the 3W’s: Wear a mask, Wash your hands, Watch your distance.
Thank You all for your cooperation!

Now Scheduling Sports Physicals!

It is that time of year again!  Ravalli Family Medicine is now offering sports physicals. We will be offering two different ways to have sports physicals completed this year:   you have the option to pick between traditional well child checks, billed to insurance, or a sports physical in the style of those offered at sports physical night.  This second option is for healthy children only.  Payment is due at the time of service, and all monies from these visits will be donated back to the individual’s respective school. Sports physicals are by appointment only, Monday through Friday.  Call now to schedule your child’s appointment.

TeleHealth Visit Etiquette

 

As the COVID-19 pandemic continues, we would like to highlight some important information from Updox on how to properly utilize your TeleHealth visit with your provider.

 

During your TeleHealth visit please make the most of the time with your provider. Choose the best setting possible for your visit. The following will help create the best TeleHealth experience:

  • A quiet room with no distractions or background noise
  • A room with good lighting
  • Avoid multi-tasking during your visit
  • Please silence and put away your cell phone
  • Make sure you have everything needed to complete your visit (this may include your most recent vital signs, medication list, etc.)

 

Video Chat Basics for New Users:

This document explains the key features needed to set up your TeleHealth visit.

Click Here for the Basics

 

Video Chat FAQs for Patients:

This document includes frequently asked questions by patients to utilize TeleHealth.

Click Here for the FAQs

 

How To Do a Telehealth (Video Chat) Visit

If you’ve been scheduled by our office for a telehealth visit, you may be unsure what to expect. Review the information below to be sure you’re prepared to make your visit as productive and helpful as possible.

An introduction to video chatting with your provider:

Patient Video Chat Intro

If you have questions after looking over that intro, check out these FAQs:

Video Chat FAQs

New Years Resolutions!

As we begin a New Year, what are your goals for this year and how many New Year’s resolutions have you made? Each New Year allows a fresh start for those trying to make changes in their life, or just to live a healthier lifestyle. A large portion of the population will include modifications to their diet in their New Year’s resolutions. Many struggle to continue their new diet throughout the year, and will often fall back into old habits. A new diet does not have to be hard, or completely change the way you eat. Those who make vast changes to their diet often find it harder to fulfill. Changing the way you eat can have significant impacts on your health and well-being. This article will touch on just a few changes you can make to your everyday diet to improve your health.

Let’s begin with fats. Healthy fats are essential to your health, and many are not aware of benefits of making healthy choices. Fats are macronutrients needed for energy.  There are four different fats:  saturated, monounsaturated, trans, and polyunsaturated.  Decreases to trans-fats and saturated fats in your diet can have an impact on your health. Trans-fats will often be known as “partially hydrogenated oils” on food labels. Trans-fat is frequently found in fried foods, processed snacks, and baked goods. This type of fat should be avoided. This can be accomplished by substituting polyunsaturated fats. Polyunsaturated fats can be found in “certain oils, nuts, and seeds.” Another type of fat is saturated fats.  A few examples of where saturated fats are found is dairy products, certain cuts of meat, and manufactured/packaged foods. Saturated fats are often referred to as solid fats, because they will usually remain solid at room temperature. You should try to replace saturated fats with unsaturated fats.  Unsaturated fats are split into two types, monounsaturated fats, and polyunsaturated fats. Unsaturated fats are found in many oils or plant based foods.  Since you do need fat in your diet, focus on getting most of the fat from healthy sources.

It is also important to avoid ultra-processed foods, which include microwavable meals, instant noodles, breakfast cereals, candies, and many others. Processing food is when a change is made to make it ready for us to eat. It is important to remember some foods may go through a process that doesn’t necessarily make them unhealthy. When food is processed, there may be up to three stages of preparation. The first stage, or primary processing, is an action to ensure the food is edible.  A simple example could be harvesting grain. The second step is when foods are cooked, frozen, canned, etc. Following this stage, some foods are still considered healthy. It is the third stage of processing where manufacturers inject flavors, add sugars or chemical preservatives that qualifies food as ultra-processed, and potentially unhealthy.

Lastly, you should also focus on the presence of whole ingredients in your diet. Whole ingredients have not been processed, although there are foods still considered to be whole ingredients after the first stage of processing. Ensuring a healthy amount of meat, vegetables, fruits, whole grains, etc., and at the same time minimizing ultra-processed foods is major component of a healthy diet. Cooking with whole ingredients, and minimizing restaurant meals will not only aid your health but also your wallet.

Overall, these three modifications are a good place to start your New Years healthy diet. This lifestyle could help you feel better, and could also increase your energy levels. Modifications to your diet such as the ones mentioned above will increase your ability to live a longer, and healthier life.

Updox User Guide

Registering/Logging in:

  1. You should receive an email titled “New Portal Account with Ravalli Family Medicine”. It will contain a username, a temporary password, and a link.
  2. Click the link in the email and use the provided username and temporary password to sign in to Updox. Type the username EXACTLY as it appears in the email, even if your name or a word is misspelled. You can change your username later if necessary.
  3. Copy and paste the initial password from the email into the password box and log in.
  4. You will be immediately prompted to change your password. Change it to something only you know and that you will remember.
  5. You will be required to verify your identity by entering your birthdate. It must match the birthdate we have listed in your medical chart.
  6. You should now have access to Updox!

Don’t know how to copy and paste? Just highlight the temporary password provided in the email. Right-click over it and on the drop down menu that appears, click “copy”. Then return to the login page opened from the link and right-click in the password box. Choose “paste” from the drop down menu. Your temporary password should appear in the box EXACTLY as it appears in the email.

 

Messaging staff:

  1. Click the Messages tab on the left side of your Updox screen.
  2. Click the + Send Message button. A new message will appear on the right side of your screen.
  3. Click the drop-down menu on the top to select a recipient. You can message any RFM staff member, and all staff check their messages continually throughout the workday. Selecting “Ravalli Family Medicine” will message all four providers.
  4. Type your message in the message box. Add a file attachment in the bottom right corner if necessary.
  5. Click Send.
  6. Any replies will be accessible through your Updox portal. You will get a notification email anytime a staff member messages your portal. You can view messages in the Messages tab or by clicking View Details on any new message under the My Notifications box in your Updox home screen.

 

Requesting an appointment:

NOTE:  This feature allows you to request an appointment at a time that is convenient to you. YOU ARE NOT SCHEDULING YOUR OWN APPOINTMENT. You have not been scheduled until your request has been reviewed by our staff and your appointment information appears on the right side of your Appointments screen under Upcoming Appointments.

  1. Go to the Appointments tab on the left side of your Updox screen. A column will appear that is titled Waitlist.
  2. Select Ravalli Family Medicine under the Where drop-down menu.
  3. Select your provider’s name from the With drop-down menu.
  4. Beside When, First Available will be checked by default. If you would rather request an appointment on a certain day, uncheck the First Available box. This will allow you to choose a date and time for your request. Please keep in mind your provider may not be available at the date or time you request; the less specific your request, the more likely we will be able to accommodate it.
  5. Click in the Notes text box to type a message to our staff letting us know why you feel you need to be seen.
  6. Click Request Waitlist. A message box stating Success will pop up letting you know your request has been sent.
  7. Please be patient. We try to check our Wait List requests every morning. If you have not been scheduled within two business days of your request, call our office to follow up.

 

Granting access to a family member:

  1. Click the Account tab at the bottom left of your Updox screen.
  2. Click Family Access.
  3. If your family member DOES NOT have access to Updox already (because they are not a patient of Ravalli Family Medicine), use the Create a New User section to create an account for them with their own username and password. Enter an expiration date if you want to limit their access to a temporary period of time.
  4. If your family member DOES have access to Updox already (because they are another Ravalli Family Medicine patient), use the Grant an Existing User Access section. Have them enter their existing username and password to gain access to your record as well as their own. Enter an expiration date if you want to limit their access to a temporary period of time.
  5. Switch between your record and that of a family member by clicking the Family tab on the left side of your Updox screen. Your account, and that of any family members to whom you have access, will be listed.

 

Other:

  • Change your username, password, or account settings: click the Account tab at the bottom left of your screen and select My Profile.
  • Search for records from a certain day or date range: click the Health tab on the left side of your screen, then type a date or range in the boxes at the upper right of the screen and click Submit.