I’m your doctor friend when you have a medical question.
Jessica Triest, M.D.
My MD Friend is a boutique medical service run by
Dr. Jessica Triest,
Board Certified ER doctor.
Specializing in:
-Acute Care Medical Advising-
-Minor Procedures (stitches, abscess drainage, foreign body removal, etc.)-
-Injury Related Questions-
-Infection Concerns-
-Guidance before, during and after an ER Visit-
-Random medical questions you want to ask a doctor directly-
This is the personal medical attention you have always wanted.
Questions regarding patients of all ages are welcome.
How it works:
“I have a medical question! What do I do?”
Sign up.
You will be sent a welcome email with a secure, direct email and phone number. Save the phone number for easy future reference.
Text Dr. Triest your medical question via the number provided.
Receive an answer, often with a few follow up questions, or a phone call. Your question will be answered during office hours, or sooner if possible. The more information you can provide in the initial question, the better. Dr. Triest will discuss with you if a video call or in-person examination will be required in order to adequately address your concern.
Payment via credit card on file, or zelle/cash/check.
A few important notes:
This is NOT a 24/7 immediate answering service.
Questions are answered during Hours of Operation, and occasional evenings. However, since this is a one-woman operation at this time there will be periods of time when there may be no response for multiple days.
There will be no electronic communication Friday afternoons thru Saturday night and all Jewish holidays.
There is no charge for signing up.
If you believe you are experiencing a life or limb threatening emergency, do not wait for my response. Call 911 immediately.
Real Life Sample Questions
“A ladder fell on my leg, do I need stitches?”
“A squirrel jumped on me and scratched me, what do I do?”
“How do I get a pomegranate seed out of my baby’s nose?”
“My daughter fell rollerblading and her wrists hurt a lot, but she is still playing piano normally. What should I do?”
“Can I take these medications together?”
“Is this a bug bite or an infection?”
“Where should I go for my abdominal pain that started yesterday?”
“My child touched the stove, what do I do for his burn?”
“My relative was told she needs a MRI, why does she need that?”
“My son threw up once, and it sort of looks bloody, but I can’t tell. What should I do?”
“How do I know if I need to get an x-ray for my finger pain?”
“My neurologist recommended a nerve block for my pain, but I don’t really understand what that means. Can you explain a nerve block?”
Should you require a higher level of care than can be provided through this service, you will be redirected to your primary care doc, a specialist or the ER.
FAQ’s
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HIPAA compliant communication and accurate medical records are important. Upon registration, you will be directed to a secure medical record platform that enables all conversations to be kept private and secure. Within the software, secure video chatting is also an option.
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No, My MD Friend is not here to replace your primary care provider, pediatricians, specialists, urgent care or the Emergency Department. This is a supplemental medical service to be used as a complement to your established relationships.
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Yes! Laceration repairs (stitches, glue, steri-strips, etc), minor foreign body removals (splinters, objects in ears or noses, etc.), abscess incision and drainage, minor burn care, nursemaid elbow reductions, etc.
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No, but advise will be given when labs or imaging are indicated.
Follow up guidance when you receive your results is also a service provided.
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Patients must have their primary residence in Michigan or be physically in Michigan for Dr. Triest to provide medical care.
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Generally, questions are answered Monday-Thursday between 10am and 3pm, and then again occasionally in the evenings. The goal is always to respond as quickly as possible. However, if you text at 10am, it might take me a couple of hours minimum to get back to you depending on the day. There will be no response on Saturdays or Jewish holidays, which will be reflected on the website. Sundays are variable.
The more information you can provide when you send your question, the quicker the response usually.
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Answer your relatively straight-forward acute care medical questions.
Help you interpret medical records, labs, or imaging studies that you don’t understand.
Minor procedures (see above)
Guidance before, during and after an ER visit. (managing expectations, explaining protocols, reassurance, etc.)
Offer reassurance when you just need another opinion.
Questions regarding patients of all ages are welcome.
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Dr. Triest does not do yearly physical or sports exams, immunizations, any lab work, or imaging. No medication refills for chronic conditions.
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Strep tests - Yes.
Covid-19 and Flu tests - No.
Ear checks - when indicated
There are many other medical centers in our communities providing all these services, and so Dr. Triest has chosen not to focus on providing these tests on a routine basis, but will discuss with you when/if they are indicated on a case by case basis.