What to Expect at Your Maine Telemedicine Certification Visit

Getting certified for medical cannabis in Maine by telemedicine means you do the whole visit from home, on your phone or computer, with a Relief Clinic provider. If you have never done a telehealth visit of any kind, it is normal to wonder what actually happens and whether you will be asked to do something you are not ready for. This guide walks through the visit in order, so nothing catches you off guard.

Everything below comes from how Relief Clinic describes its own process. The clinic has run a Maine office in Auburn since 2015, and telemedicine is one of its two ways to get certified in Maine.

Step one: you start with a text

There is no account to build and no long intake packet to find. The clinic's Maine instructions are simple: text (207) 241-2815. Texting is the front door, and it is the number you will use for questions before and after your visit too.

Telemedicine visits are available seven days a week, from 10:00am - 8:00pm. That matters if you work weekdays, care for family, or live a long way from Auburn. You do not have to take a day off or drive anywhere.

Which device works best

A smartphone is the easiest choice. The clinic says the visit runs best on an iPhone or Android phone, and that a computer or tablet will also work. Whatever you pick, set it up before your appointment time rather than during it.

• Charge your phone, or plug it in, so the battery is not a worry halfway through.
• Find a quiet room where you can talk without being interrupted.
• Check that your Wi-Fi or cell signal is steady where you plan to sit.
• Keep your Maine driver's license or state ID within reach.
• Think ahead about what you want to tell the provider about your health and your daily life.

Have your ID in your hand

Relief Clinic says Maine requires the provider to see your Maine driver's license or state ID. Pull it out of your wallet before the visit starts, and make sure it is the current one. One patient, Jessica Bourgoin, left this review after sending the wrong card:

“I had messed up and I sent my old drivers license and they were so quick to fix it and so nice!! Thank you so much for making this so easy and affordable and for having such good customer service!!”

A mix-up with an ID is fixable, and by her account the staff handled it kindly. Still, it saves you a step if you check the card first.

The conversation with your provider

This is the part people worry about most, and it is the simplest. The clinic describes its approach as in-depth consultations focused on getting to know you and understanding your pain management needs. You talk with a provider about what you are dealing with, and the provider decides whether certification fits your situation.

Relief Clinic's Maine page lists the conditions it sees, including chronic pain, anxiety, depression, PTSD, arthritis, migraines, insomnia and fibromyalgia, along with many more. If your condition is not on the list, ask by text before you book. The clinic also offers free consultations if you are not sure which process to choose.

One more detail that puts people at ease: the clinic says telemedicine visits are not recorded.

If you have a mental health condition

Patients with anxiety, depression, PTSD or any other mental health condition have one extra step. They fill out a HIPAA form and a PCL-5 questionnaire. The PCL-5 is a 15-item questionnaire, answered on a scale from 0 to 4. Both forms are online, so you can complete them on your phone before your visit. The clinic says it follows HIPAA and does not share your information with anyone.

After the visit

Relief Clinic advertises same-day approval, with electronic copies uploaded the same day for telemedicine patients. Patient reviews match that. Kari Robbins wrote:

“Very quick & efficient! The webiste was very easy to understand & I had my digital copy within 5 minutes of submitting my request for an appointment! Definitely will be using this company going forward for my renewals!”

And Natasmai put it this way: “Very easy and fast.. pleasant to work with and emailed the temp card to me in about 3 seconds flat!!”

After you have your certification, the choice of dispensary is yours. The clinic says it and its providers have no financial interest in the establishment you go to, and that you can use any dispensary you like.

What it costs

The Maine telemedicine visit is $43.99. The clinic accepts cash and all major credit cards. The in-person visit at the Auburn office is $39.99, and a later post in this series compares the two so you can pick the one that suits you.

Ready to get started, or just have a question first? Text Relief Clinic at (207) 241-2815 and a real person will point you to the next step.