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 20 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.

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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

If you have been diagnosed with a serious, life-limiting or terminal illness and need medical attention, it can be difficult to leave your home and make the drive to see your physician. Dr. Charfen uses virtual visits specifically for you. She has found that being in the comfort of your home, limiting infectious risk exposure and limiting your own exertion are all important reasons for using virtual visits when appropriate. In other cases, an office or a house-call visit may be necessary, which she provides as well. You can always call or text the office if you need guidance at 808-726-2461.

The goal of working with Dr. Charfen with your complex condition(s) is to improve your quality of life. Examples of the many disease types include but aren’t limited to:

Cancer of any type
Cardiac disease such as congestive heart failure (CHF) or end-stage heart disease from any cause
Lung Disease like chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), Pulmonary fibrosis or end-stage lung disease from other causes
Kidney Failure nearing or requiring dialysis
Dementia from any cause such as Alzheimer’s or Vascular Dementia
Parkinson’s, Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS)
and many more

Dr. Charfen focuses on the symptoms, stress of the disease and the treatments you elect. She will work with any of your physicians or alone to help treat a wide range of issues that can include pain, depression, anxiety, fatigue, shortness of breath, constipation, nausea, loss of appetite and difficulty sleeping.

Her focus is to help you match your goals to your treatment choices, supporting your family and caregivers and more.

Urgent Medical Care

Urgent care treats patients who have an injury or illness that requires time-sensitive care but is not serious enough to warrant a visit to an emergency room.

As a boarded specialist, physician in Emergency Medicine, Dr. Charfen easily provides immediate care for acute, non-life threatening illnesses and injury via telemedicine or in the office. She is an expert in recognizing when a higher level of care needs referral to an ER.

Here is a basic list of some of the minor conditions that can be treated virtually and quickly by Dr. Charfen:

Eye Care: Conjunctivitis (pink eye), Styes
Ear Problems: Otitis media and externa (middle ear and swimmer’s ear infections)
Nose and Throat Conditions: Upper respiratory Infection, Strep throat, Sinusitis
Dental Problems: Dental infections, Dental Pain
Respiratory Conditions: Mild Asthma, Bronchitis
Gastrointestinal Conditions: Vomiting, Diarrhea, Constipation
Urinary Tract Conditions: UTI (urinary tract infection) or bladder infections, STI (sexually transmitted infection)
Skin Urgent Care: Insect Bites, Cellulitis, Boils, Mild burns, Rashes, Fungal infections
Orthopedic Injury: Sprains and strains
Other Conditions: Mild allergic reactions, Medication refills, COVID-19 Evaluations, Weight loss, Erectile Dysfunction

And More…..

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 her expertise to patients and their loved ones that are navigating serious health issues, decisions or planning through private, hour-long chats virtually. You do not have to be her patient to participate as this can be an educational consultation and not a medical one. The topics that can be explored are determined by you but may include:

medical decision making
talking with your doctor or specialists
advance care planning
community caregiving model of care
end-of-life planning
end-of life options: such as end-of-life doulas, hospice, VSED (voluntary stop eating and drinking, MAID (medical aid in dying).

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.

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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.