MD Access for All (MDAFA) is an innovative healthcare model designed to eliminate the obstacles that can make it difficult for patients to access medical care. With MD Access for All, patients can quickly connect with a healthcare provider via text, without needing an appointment. This direct access to healthcare providers can ensure that patients receive timely and appropriate medical attention for their health concerns. Moreover, we offer a comprehensive diabetes management program that works in tandem with MD Access for All to help patients address health issues at an early stage, preventing more serious and costly complications in the future.

Telehealth is the use of electronic information and telecommunications technologies to support long-distance clinical health care, patient and professional health-related education, and health administration. This technology can be used for diagnosis, consultation, treatment, follow-up, education, and transfer of electronic medical records and medical data. Telehealth services may include:

• Interactive chat/text (the main channel of communication between patients and the MD Access for All healthcare providers)
• Landline and wireless communication
• Audio and/or video communication
• Streaming media

The City of Ferris has partnered with MD Health Pathways to provide the MD Access for All program to it’s residents at no-charge. 

We are pleased to offer our healthcare services to current/former patients of Ferris Family Medicine and their households at a special annual rate, even if they do not qualify for the City of Ferris MD Access for All program. For more information, please refer to the details below.

MD Access for All is available at no charge for residents of the City of Ferris as well as for students, staff, and teachers of Ferris Independent School District and their household members. After registering, we will confirm your household’s eligibility.

We would like to extend our healthcare services to current/former patients of Ferris Family Medicine, who do not otherwise qualify for the City of Ferris MD Access for All program, at a special annual rate of just $7.50/month for an individual or $15/month for a household (family members residing at the same address, up to 5 individuals) billed annually. For households with more than 5 members, the cost is an additional $3/month per person, billed annually.

Please note that MD Access for All is not intended for emergency situations or life-threatening conditions. If you are experiencing a medical emergency, please call 911 immediately.

You can signup/register for MD Access for All by Clicking Here

Yes, we provide language support options for our patients who may prefer to communicate in a language other than English. We support several languages including Spanish, French, Portuguese, Polish, Chinese, Filipino, Vietnamese, Russian, Thai, Korean, Japanese, Burmese, Somali, Nepali, Hebrew (right to left), Arabic (right to left), and Ukrainian. Patients don’t need to do anything as the system will automatically translate their message to English for the provider, and the provider’s response will be translated to the patient’s preferred language. This ensures that patients can communicate their healthcare needs effectively and accurately with their provider.

Our Healthcare Providers are accessible through text from 8am – 10pm CST, 7 days a week, which includes holidays.

MD Access for All is a convenient telehealth program that allows you to connect with our healthcare providers through text messaging, with no appointment necessary. Simply register and once your registration is confirmed, you’ll receive an email confirmation, you can start texting us at (972) 332-4810. 

Our healthcare providers can help you manage most acute primary care conditions and illnesses, as well as provide ongoing health management and consultation. These conditions/illness include but are not limited to:

MD Access for All providers are unable to prescribe oxygen tanks, wheelchairs, or other durable medical equipment such as scooters or splints. These items require monitoring, follow-up, and an in-person assessment, which cannot be provided through our text-based telehealth program.

Our providers are unable to provide referrals for physical or occupational therapy as these require an in-person evaluation.

If you are currently taking a medication and need a refill, our MD Access for All providers can discuss your health history and assess whether it is safe to provide a refill at this time. In some cases, it may be necessary to refer you back to your original prescribing provider for further evaluation or an in-person visit to ensure the best possible care. This is done to ensure your safety and to minimize any potential risks or adverse effects of medication use.

For non-emergency conditions, yes, you can still consult with our providers through MD Access for All. While our providers may not be able to treat your specific condition remotely, they can offer medical advice, counsel you about your condition, and help you explore treatment options.

Certainly. Our MD Access for All providers are able to provide medical excuse notes for work or school as needed. The duration of the note will be based on their clinical evaluation and judgment. Please note that this service is intended for acute primary care conditions only and not for ongoing or chronic conditions.

Certainly! Our healthcare providers have the ability to electronically prescribe medication when it is necessary for your treatment. Once the prescription is written, it will be sent directly to the pharmacy of your choice for you to purchase and pick up.

Our providers are unable to prescribe narcotic pain relievers or other drugs that are classified as controlled substances by the U.S. Drug Enforcement Agency or regulated under state law. These drugs require close monitoring, follow-up, and an in-person evaluation for safety reasons.

Common controlled substances include opioids such as oxycodone, hydrocodone, and fentanyl, as well as benzodiazepines like alprazolam and diazepam. Other controlled substances include medications for attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), such as Adderall and Ritalin, as well as sleep aids like Ambien and Lunesta. If you are uncertain whether a particular prescription is listed as a controlled substance, you can review the DEA Controlled Substances Schedule or consult with your provider.

MD Health Pathways is committed to maintaining the confidentiality and privacy of your protected health information in compliance with HIPAA regulations. We have implemented policies and procedures to prevent unauthorized access, use, or disclosure of your information.

If you wish to authorize the disclosure of your medical records to another person or entity, we require a written authorization and signed consent from you. Similarly, if you would like to restrict the disclosure of your protected health information to a specific person or entity, please inform us and we will do our best to accommodate your request.

For any questions or concerns regarding your privacy rights or HIPAA compliance, please contact our HIPAA Compliance Officer at [email protected]. They will be happy to assist you with any authorizations, restrictions, or privacy inquiries.

At MD Health Pathways, we take the security and privacy of your personal and medical information seriously. All data entered within our application is securely stored and protected through the use of encryption, such as the Secure Socket Layer (SSL) protocol— the same type of security used by banks.

Our servers are housed in highly secure data centers with world-class electronic surveillance and multi-factor access control systems. Trained security guards staff these centers 24/7, and access is authorized on a privileged basis only. Additionally, we have environmental security measures in place to minimize disruptions to operation. Our data storage is spread across several geographic regions and availability zones, which allows us to stay operational during most failure situations, including natural disasters and power outages.

Rest assured that your personal and medical information is in safe hands with MD Health Pathways.

The MD Access for All program is designed to provide free access to City of Ferris residents, as well as Ferris ISD Staff, Teachers, Students, and their households. For these individuals, there is no cost associated with using the program. The MD Access for All program does not accept or bill any health insurance plans.

Yes, you can access the MD Access for All telehealth program from your smartphone or tablet, as it is a text-based service. To use the program, you simply need to send a text message to the designated number. As long as your device is capable of sending and receiving text messages, you can conveniently access the telehealth program from your smartphone, tablet, or any other compatible device.

You can typically anticipate a response from a healthcare provider in about 5 minutes. However, it’s important to note that response times may be affected by factors such as weak cell service or technical issues. Rest assured, our team is committed to providing prompt assistance and will make every effort to respond as quickly as they can.

Our healthcare providers are licensed and qualified. Our physicians are medically trained, U.S. board certified in their specialties, licensed, and credentialed. They hold bachelor’s (B.A. or B.S) and Doctor of Medicine (M.D.) or Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine (D.O.) degrees.

Our physician assistants are medically trained, NCCPA certified, licensed, and credentialed. They hold bachelor’s (B.A. or B.S.) and Physician Assistant Studies (MPAS), Health Science (MHS), or Medical Science (MMSc) degrees.

Our nurse practitioners are medically trained, ANCC or AANP certified in their specialties, licensed, and credentialed. They hold Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) and Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) degrees.

MD Health Pathways’ MD Access for All program does not allow patients to select a specific healthcare provider. When a patient requests care, they are connected with an available healthcare provider. All healthcare providers in the program are licensed, experienced, and trained to provide high-quality care.

Yes, you can send photos or videos of your symptoms to the healthcare provider through text message. However, this may not be necessary for all conditions, and a provider may only ask for visual aids in certain cases depending on the illness being treated.

Typically, the duration of a conversation between a patient and an MD Access for All provider may vary depending on the complexity of the medical issue, the extent of questions, and how quickly the patient responds to provider messages. Generally, it can take anywhere from 15 minutes to an hour to complete a conversation and receive treatment or reach a resolution. Our providers strive to provide efficient and effective care while taking the necessary time to address the patient’s concerns and provide appropriate treatment.

Yes, our healthcare providers can provide you with information about certain specialists in your area. Please note that we are unable to schedule appointments with these specialists, and we cannot guarantee their availability or acceptance of insurance plans. However, we are committed to helping you find appropriate care for your medical needs and will do our best to assist you.

Currently, the MD Access for All program only offers text-based consultations with our healthcare providers. However, this may change in the future as we continue to evaluate and improve our services. If video consultations become available, we will notify all registered patients.

To update your personal demographic information in the MD Access for All program, simply text us at (972) 332-4810 and let us know that you need to make changes. One of our healthcare providers will connect you with a patient representative who can assist you with updating your personal information.

The MD Access for All program is available for eligible patients even when they are traveling, both within and outside of the United States. However, please keep in mind that prescription options may be limited when traveling outside of the US, and you may be referred to see a local healthcare provider if necessary.

If you have any additional questions please don’t hesitate to contact us. You can text us at 972-332-4810 or email us at [email protected] and our team will be happy to assist you.