VirtualMedicalPractice,LLC
expanding genetic horizons...

Frances D Kendall, MD

Dr. Frances Dougherty Kendall is board certified as a biochemical geneticist and has extensive experience in the diagnosis and management of children & adults with a wide array of inborn errors of metabolism, specifically mitochondrial & metabolic disorders.

Medical School

UMDNJ-New Jersey Medical School, Newark, NJ

Intership & Residencies:

Chief Resident in Pediatrics, Thomas Jefferson University Hospital Philadelphia, PA

Resident in Pediatrics, Thomas Jefferson University Hospital, Philadelphia, PA

Intern in Pediatrics, Thomas Jefferson University Hospital, Philadelphia, PA

Clinical & Research Fellowships:

Fellow in Genetics and Metabolism, Children’s Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA

Research Fellow in Genetics and Metabolism, Tufts University, Medford, MA

Academic Appointments:

Instructor in Pediatrics, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA

Assistant Professor, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA

Board Certifications:

Biochemical Genetics, American Board of Medical Genetics, (Active)

American Board of Pediatrics Certificate, (Inactive)

Hospital Appointments:

Attending Physician, Department of Genetics, Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta at Scottish Rite Center, Atlanta, GA (current)

Attending Physician, Division of Genetics, Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta at Egleston Center, Decatur GA (current)

Director, Medical Genetics and Metabolic Screening Laboratory, Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta @ Scottish Rite, Atlanta, GA

Assistant Director, IEM-PKU Program, Children’s Hospital, Boston, MA

Attending Physician, Department of Pediatrics, St. Elizabeth’s Medical Center, Boston, MA

Director, Mitochondrial Disorders Program, Children’s Hospital, Boston, MA

Attending physician, IEM-PKU Program, Children’s Hospital, Boston, MA

Assistant in Medicine (Genetics), Children’s Hospital, Boston, MA

Other Professional Positions:

Member, Medical Advisory Committee, MitoAction, Boston, MA (current)

Co-Owner & Vice President, Horizon Molecular Medicine, Atlanta, GA

Co-Founder & Board of Directors, Foundation of Molecular Medicine, Atlanta, GA

Principal Investigator, Dichloroacetate Efficacy in Mitochondrial Disease Study, Children’s Hospital, Boston, MA

Associations:

Member, Society of Inherited Metabolic Diseases (active)

Lectures & Teaching:

See our Resource tab for a listing of the most recent lectures. Please contact us for a complete listing.

Publications:

Go to the National Institutes of Health 's www.PubMed.com website and search for Dr Kendall's publications and see our Resource tab for a listing of the most recent publications. Please contact us for a complete listing. She has authored numerous research articles on various rare diseases that include mitochondrial disease and an array of other inborn errors of metabolism and has a long term interest in research and clinical aspects of metabolic disorders.

Mucopolysaccharidoses

Medical Care for Children and Adults with Developmental Disabilities Textbook

Metabolic Testing in Mitochondrial Disease

Seminars in Neurology

more listed under Resources tab

A FEW WORDS ABOUT VIRTUAL MEDICAL PRACTICE

First and foremost, we do see the majority of our patients face to face in our clinical office. While it is always preferable to have a face to face appointment with a patient, we understand that for various reasons travel may be very challenging to certain people and a remote second opinion may be an option for them.

Although the price tag for healthcare continues to rise, we have devised innovative processes that keep our overhead low enabling us to pass on the savings to you. We believe in being green by our recycling efforts and by utilizing readily available technology to eliminate paper, communication expenses and employee overhead.

“We are accepting the challenge to improve healthcare through technology and believe that the future of medicine is indeed now,” Dr. Kendall stated. Virtual Medical Practice, the brainchild of Dr. Fran Kendall, former owner of a successful biotech company, is geared towards the diagnosis and management of children and adults with rare genetic disorders.

Utilizing a number of innovative services such as webcam and Skype technology, EMR (electronic medical records), and an internet based phone and fax system, the practice can provide excellence in healthcare to an underserved population in a cost-effective fashion. In the past, because of the rarity of these disorders and the lack of specialists to care for the population, many patients needed to travel far distances to see a medical expert -- losing wages and engendering airfare, hotel and other travel costs. Others simply found the process cost prohibitive, resulting in no access to necessary medical information and care. “Many areas of the country do not have qualified specialists. Those specialists have limited or no experience at all with these disorders,” explained Dr. Kendall. Since understanding the disease process and implementing preventative measures can have a drastic impact not only on quality of life for an affected individual but for their healthcare costs in general. Gaining access to a medical specialists is vital and the key component of this healthcare model.

“Not all areas of medicine are amenable to this model,” says Dr. Kendall. “However, a large component of genetics involves education and that can be done in a patient’s living room utilizing technology.”

To keep costs contained, VMP does not employ staff to schedule patients or collect billings from insurance companies. The practice is a fee for service model and assists patients in filing for reimbursement through their insurance companies much like dental offices. Shortly after your office visit, you will receive the physicians note of your visit and a form which explains in detail the charges incurred. This form is accepted by most insurance companies as the "physician's statement or Form 1500 " when you submit your claim to them. We understand that a fee for service may be difficult for some families at times; therefore, our patient advocates will be happy to discuss payment arrangements with you.

However, the long-term goal is to have a number of patients qualify for “free care” through non-profit partners and industry support. “We can charge reasonable fees,” Dr. Kendall explains,” because we have limited overhead. Overall, we are able to provide more care to a greater number of patients at a dramatically lower cost to the healthcare system.”

“I am very excited about the widespread impact this type of model can have on patients and their quality of life. Instead of limiting a practice to a specific office, we can now provide increased access using technology,” Dr. Kendall relayed.

Indeed, the future of medicine is now for many previously overlooked patients.

Whom better to talk about VMP than patients. Click here for our testimonial page.