Treatable Conditions

The “big business” of medicine has taken over what used to be a sacred relationship between doctor and patient. The pandemic has spotlighted for the general public what Dr. Charfen has witnessed over 25 years of practice: the U.S. healthcare system is broken and failing most of us.

Dr. Charfen’s goal is to bring back the respected art of good ole’ fashioned medicine, using the best that technology currently offers.

Book A Telemedicine Appointment

What is treatable?

Here is a list of many conditions that can be evaluated and/or treated via telemedicine and in-person.

Serious Illness Care

Living with a serious, life-limiting, or terminal illness can make traveling to a doctor difficult. Dr. Charfen offers virtual visits to provide care in the comfort of your home, reducing exertion and exposure risks. When needed, office or house-call visits are also available. For guidance, call or text 808-726-2461.

Dr. Charfen’s goal is to improve your quality of life by managing symptoms like pain, anxiety, fatigue, and more. She works collaboratively with your physicians or independently to ensure your treatment aligns with your goals, supporting both you and your caregivers.

Conditions treated include but aren’t limited to:

Cancer
Heart failure or end-stage cardiac disease
Advanced lung disease (COPD, pulmonary fibrosis)
Kidney failure
Dementia (Alzheimer’s, vascular, etc.)
Parkinson’s, ALS, and more

Urgent Medical Care

Urgent care addresses injuries or illnesses requiring prompt attention but not severe enough for the ER.

As a board-certified Emergency Medicine specialist, Dr. Charfen provides immediate care for non-life-threatening conditions via telemedicine or in-office visits. She expertly identifies when ER referral is needed.

Conditions Treated:

Eye Care: Pink eye, styes
Ear: Ear infections, swimmer’s ear
Nose/Throat: Strep throat, sinusitis, upper respiratory infections
Dental: Pain, infections
Respiratory: Mild asthma, bronchitis
GI: Vomiting, diarrhea, constipation
Urinary: UTIs, STIs
Skin: Rashes, burns, bites, fungal infections
Orthopedic: Sprains, strains
Other: Allergies, COVID-19 evaluations, medication refills

Prescription Requests

Most medications can easily be filled or renewed on-line. Once a medical relationship is established with Dr. Charfen, prescription requests and refills can be sent to your preferred pharmacy securely and electronically usually without a televisit in certain cases. If you would like to become an established medical patient, simply make a request with our virtual office.

Medical Cannabis Certification

If you have an established doctor-patient relationship with Dr. Charfen then you are able to use virtual visits for certification or recertification for a medical cannabis license in the state of Hawai’i. It’s easy to establish care. Please read the Medical Cannabis information for further details.

Chats with Dr. ChaCha

Dr. Charfen offers private, virtual consultations to help patients and loved ones navigate complex health issues and planning. These sessions are educational and open to anyone, not just her patients. Topics may include:

Medical decision-making
Communicating with doctors or specialists
Advance care planning
Caregiving models
End-of-life planning and options (e.g., hospice, VSED, MAID)

You can read more details about non-medical consultations here.

If you are unsure if you should be evaluated via telemedicine and do not have a medical emergency, please call or message the office for guidance at 808-726-2461.

Click To Check Availability To Book A Telemedicine Appointment

Conditions Not Treated by Telemedicine

There are many life-threatening conditions that need an immediate emergency department evaluation. In these situations, a delay in care using a telemedicine service would be inappropriate and potentially harmful.

911 should always be called or an immediate emergency department evaluation obtained in the case of:

Chest pain
Moderate to severe abdominal pain
Moderate to severe shortness of breath
New onset headaches
Strokes and other neurological complaints/confusion and deficits
Moderate to severe generalized weakness
Fainting
Vomiting blood
Rectal bleeding

If you are unsure if you actually have a medical emergency, you can call 911 for help and guidance.