HIPAA-compliant video visits with board-certified neurologist Dr. Thomas Kurian, MD — convenient access to expert neurology care from anywhere in California.
overview
Telemedicine is a real, established part of modern neurology care — not a substitute for it. For the right patient and the right situation, a video visit with the right neurologist is just as effective as an in-person appointment, and considerably more convenient.
Many California patients live far from a board-certified neurologist. Even patients in Los Angeles County often face an hours-long round trip for a 30-minute visit. Telemedicine — when used appropriately — closes that gap. It also allows us to keep care continuous when a patient is traveling, recovering from surgery, or dealing with a sick child at home.
The same physician (Dr. Kurian), the same medical record, the same level of attention, the same prescriptions, the same lab and imaging orders, and the same documentation. Privacy protections under HIPAA apply identically to telemedicine and in-person visits.
The neurological exam is adapted for video. We are very good at getting useful information from a video exam — observing gait, posture, tremor, eye movements, facial movement, speech, coordination, and cognitive function — but some findings require hands-on assessment. We are honest about when in-person care is needed and arrange that when it is.
how it works
From scheduling to follow-up, here is exactly how a telemedicine visit at Los Angeles Neurosciences works.
Call (661) 857-7100 or request an appointment online. We confirm your insurance benefits and let you know the expected cost before scheduling. Most telemedicine appointments can be offered within the same week.
You will be sent intake forms electronically — medical history, current medications, prior testing, and the reason for the visit. Completing these in advance makes the visit faster and more productive.
If you have prior MRI, EEG, neurological reports, or other relevant medical records, please send them in advance. Most patients can email or upload them via a secure link. We review records before the visit so we can use the time efficiently.
Shortly before your appointment, you will receive a secure link by email or text. Click the link a few minutes before the start time, allow your browser to use your camera and microphone, and you are in the visit.
The visit itself follows the same flow as in-person — history, focused neurological exam adapted for video, discussion, and a written plan. Visits typically run 30 to 60 minutes depending on whether it is a first visit or follow-up.
Prescriptions go electronically to your pharmacy. Lab orders go to a lab convenient to you. Imaging orders go to a nearby imaging center. A summary of the visit and the plan is provided to you afterward, and we set up the next follow-up.
what to expect
A few practical things you can do before the visit to make the time as useful as possible.
A bedroom, home office, or quiet corner works well. The visit involves discussing personal medical information — not a coffee shop or open office. If a family member is joining the visit (which is welcome), make sure there is enough space and good lighting for everyone in the camera view.
Prior to your visit, confirm your camera and microphone work. If you are using a phone, prop it up so it is stable and at eye level — holding the phone for a 45-minute visit is exhausting.
It is much faster — and more accurate — to read medications off the actual bottles than to recall them from memory. Have all current medications, including over-the-counter and supplements, on the desk in front of you.
For some visits — particularly Parkinson's, gait, and balance evaluations — we will ask you to stand and walk on camera. Make sure there is enough space for a few steps in the camera's view, and that the floor is clear of obstacles.
Write down your questions in advance. Telemedicine visits are time-protected just like in-person visits — but having your questions in writing makes sure none get missed.
when telemedicine is not the right fit
Telemedicine is excellent for many neurology visits — but not all. We will tell you up front when an in-person evaluation is preferable.
Sudden weakness, slurred speech, severe new headache, vision changes, or other features suggesting stroke or another emergency belong in an emergency department, not a telemedicine visit.
For new gait, balance, or weakness problems, a hands-on exam is often the most efficient way to make the diagnosis. We may suggest an in-person first visit followed by video follow-ups.
Anything requiring an in-person procedure obviously must be done in our Santa Clarita office. We schedule those visits separately.
If lighting, video quality, or the patient's ability to participate make a meaningful video exam impossible, we recommend in-person follow-up rather than guessing.
Infants and very young children sometimes need an in-person exam to assess tone, milestones, and reflexes accurately. Older children and teens often do well by video for follow-up.
Telemedicine is not the place for an acute medical or psychiatric crisis. For emergencies, call 911 or go to the nearest emergency department.
california telehealth law
California has been a national leader in telehealth law. We follow it carefully.
To receive a telemedicine visit with us, you must be physically located in California at the time of the visit. This is a rule of state medical licensure — not our preference. If you are traveling out of state, the visit must be rescheduled.
California Assembly Bill 744 and Senate Bill 1419 require many commercial insurers, Medi-Cal, and certain other payers to cover telehealth visits at the same rate as in-person visits when clinically appropriate. We verify your benefits in advance.
For situations where video is not feasible — for example, a patient without a smartphone, or in an area with poor connectivity — California rules permit audio-only telehealth in many circumstances, provided the visit meets clinical and documentation standards.
The same HIPAA Privacy and Security Rule protections that apply to your in-office visit apply to telemedicine. Our HIPAA Notice of Privacy Practices is available at laneurosciences.com/privacy.
practical notes
Quick clarifications on common questions about telemedicine logistics.
Standard prescription refills are sent electronically to your pharmacy after a brief check-in. Controlled substances follow stricter rules and may require an in-person visit per California and federal law.
To meet with us by video, you must be physically located in California at the time of the visit. If you split time between California and another state, we coordinate timing and let you know when scheduling.
Family members or caregivers in different cities can join the same video visit from their own devices. This is one of the best things about telemedicine — the conversation is no longer limited to who can drive to the office.
frequently asked questions
Plain-language answers to questions patients ask before scheduling a video visit — also marked up as structured FAQ data.
Yes. Dr. Kurian is licensed to practice medicine in California, and we offer telemedicine visits to any patient physically located in California at the time of the visit. Whether you are in Santa Clarita, Los Angeles, San Diego, the Bay Area, the Central Valley, or rural northern California, telemedicine makes neurology care accessible without long drives or time off work.
Many neurology visits work well by video — particularly follow-up visits for migraine, epilepsy, memory and cognitive disorders, Parkinson's and movement disorders, and post-concussion follow-up. Medication management, treatment-response review, and counseling visits are well suited to video. Some conditions (especially first-time evaluations of weakness, gait, or new neurological deficits) generally benefit from an in-person examination, and we will tell you honestly if telemedicine is not the best fit for your situation.
Yes. Our telemedicine platform uses end-to-end encryption and signed Business Associate Agreements consistent with HIPAA's Privacy and Security Rules. Visits are not recorded unless required clinically and disclosed to you in advance. The privacy protections that apply to in-office visits also apply to telemedicine — see our HIPAA Notice of Privacy Practices.
Any device with a working camera and microphone — a smartphone, tablet, laptop, or desktop computer. A reasonably stable internet connection is helpful (most home Wi-Fi or 4G/5G mobile is fine). You will receive a secure link by email or text prior to the visit; you click the link, allow camera and microphone access in your browser, and you are connected. No app to download in most cases.
California has telehealth parity laws (AB 744 and SB 1419) that generally require commercial insurance plans, Medi-Cal, and certain other payers to cover telehealth visits at the same rate as in-person visits when clinically appropriate. Coverage varies by plan, so we verify benefits in advance for every patient. We will tell you the expected cost before you confirm the visit.
Sometimes. Many follow-up situations and second opinions work very well by video. For some new-patient evaluations — especially those involving gait, balance, weakness, or other findings that need a hands-on exam — an in-person first visit is preferable, with telemedicine used for follow-ups. We are happy to discuss with you over the phone whether a telemedicine first visit is appropriate for your specific concern.
Yes. Pediatric follow-up visits — particularly for migraine, established epilepsy, post-concussion follow-up, and tic disorders — can work very well by video. A parent must be present in the room during the visit, and the visit format is adapted to the child's age. First evaluations of complex pediatric concerns may be best done in person.
Reconnect using the same link. If a stable connection cannot be restored within a few minutes, we will call you on the phone to complete the visit by audio (audio-only telehealth is permitted in California for most situations) or to reschedule.
Prescriptions are sent electronically to the pharmacy of your choice, exactly as in an in-person visit. Lab orders are sent to a lab convenient to you (Quest, LabCorp, or your hospital lab). For imaging studies, we typically send the order to a facility near you and follow up by video to discuss results.