Meet the Primary Care On Demand Team
The new Primary Care On Demand (PCOD) service makes acute care available anytime, day or night, including weekends and holidays.
While they do not work in the clinic, PCOD physicians are an extension of our Primary Care teams. They were hired exclusively to serve Mayo Clinic patients. They use Mayo Clinic systems, follow Ask Mayo Expert protocols, document visits in Plummer Chart and help coordinate follow-up care with other Mayo Clinic clinicians.
Charles Farewell , M.D.
Dr. Farwell grew up on a macadamia and coffee farm in Kona, Hawaii. He received his undergraduate degree in biochemistry from UCSD in 1999, and graduated UCSD School of Medicine in 2003. After a career in Navy medicine, he transitioned to telemedicine. He lives in San Diego with his family, helping his lovely wife raise two amazing children.
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What do you appreciate about partnering with an in-clinic care team?
Our partnership with brick-and-mortar clinical staff allows for a more robust and comprehensive medical service for the patient population. Working closely with our Mayo Clinic primary care colleagues , using Plummer Chart , we’re able to augment and assist the in-person care team to provide evidence-based care to the patients, when they need it.
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What do you want your in-clinic colleagues to know about the support you offer with virtual visits?
The partnership is new, expanding, and evolving. We’re constantly learning new ways to navigate and utilize Plummer Chart, and regional nuances. Process improvement is very important to our team, and we strive to be nimble in maximizing our efficiency and productivity.
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What is the most rewarding part of your job?
In a word, outstanding. It’s an honor and a privilege to play a part in the care of our patients.
Sabina Rebis , M.D.
Dr. Rebis is a Family Medicine Doctor based in Connecticut and New York. She is Board Certified and has been in practice over 5 years in both primary care and urgent care in the community setting as well as in telehealth. She has a Journalism degree from New York University, completed her medical education at Eastern Virginia Medical School, and her Family Medicine training at SUNY Stony Brook University Hospital in New York. She is passionate about finding new ways to improve the healthcare system in order to provide care for those with limited access. In her free time Dr. Rebis has freelanced on health topics for local and national news sources. Prior to transitioning to full time telehealth and joining the combined K Health/Mayo Clinic program, she was with American Family Care Urgent Care and NEMG/Yale New Haven Health practicing primary and urgent care in Connecticut. In her spare time, Dr. Rebis enjoys spending her time with her husband, daughter, and Yorkie by the name of Excelsior.
Kayla Scheuer , M.D.
Dr. Scheuer is Board Certified in Family Medicine and has been in practice for over 10 years and in the telemedicine sphere since 2020. She grew up in Southern Minnesota and graduated from Des Moines University, College of Osteopathic Medicine. She completed her residency in the combined Air Force/University of Nebraska Family Medicine Residency Program. After serving in the Air Force she settled with her family in Cincinnati, Ohio. She finds joy spending time with her husband and two daughters and is a fan of yoga, meditation, gardening, coffee, and her fluffy Bernedoodle.
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What do you appreciate about partnering with an in-clinic care team?
The timely responses when a patient needs an in-person evaluation have been exceptional. It is amazing to be able to reach out to a clinician or care team directly when a patient needs a physical exam as part of the evaluation process. I have had wonderful experiences in getting patients timely in-person care, both by contacting clinics by phone and through Plummer Chart Secure Chat. Having practiced telemedicine without that partnership, I can testify that it is reassuring to know the patient can access in-person care if
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What do you want your in-clinic colleagues to know about the support you offer with virtual visits?
I would like them to know that we are here to support them in caring for their patients in a variety of ways. In addition to seeing urgent care-type cases, we are available to help with gap closures and counseling on needed preventive care services. But we also are very cautious about overstepping our boundaries. We don’t want to take over care of your established patients, we just want to support you and the workflow of your clinics.
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How has your experience in serving Mayo Clinic patients been up to this point?
Great! It has been a refreshing experience to be part of a healthcare culture that values each patient and strives to provide everyone the best possible care. Being a team member able to reach some of these rural, traditionally under-served areas has been exciting and fulfilling. Many patients have been very appreciative and thankful for the quick access our Primary Care On Demand team can provide.
Poonam Sachdev , M.D.
Dr Sachdev is ABFM board certified Family Physician with 15 years of experience in primary care services. She received Family medicine training from University of Illinois College of Medicine, Rockford, Dixon Rural Training Track and thereafter served as a Family physician and Associate Faculty at the same site. She added wound care management and HBO therapy to her skill set. She started working with K health/ Mayo clinic partnership as a comprehensive care physician in 2023. She is passionate about providing compassionate and cost effective care while making trusting relationships with patients. She loves spending time with nature, and gardening in her spare time.
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What do you want your in-clinic colleagues to know about the support you offer with virtual visits?
We are here to help in every way we can, except when we have limitations of certain physical exam components that are necessary for care in some circumstances, or when acute emergent physical attention is needed.
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How has your experience in serving Mayo Clinic patients been up to this point?
It has been a rewarding experience to help patients from Mayo Clinic—wherever they are located—they have been very kind and patient, even with the ever-changing technological improvements and processes made within the app.
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What is the most rewarding part of your job?
It is joyful and satisfying to improve access to care without limitations of office hours/time, and physical location and having a wonderful team to help us do this.
Ngu Nguyen , M.D.
I am Dr. Nguyen, a dedicated physician with a passion for diabetes and chronic care management. For me, treating each patient as if they are a member of my own family is fundamental to my practice. I believe that the foundation of effective medical care lies in building strong, trusting relationships with my patients. I am drawn to the complexities and challenges of managing chronic illnesses. I have developed a particular love for diabetes care, recognizing the profound impact that careful management can have on a patient’s quality of life. I am a strong advocate for the use of virtual visits in healthcare. Continuity of care is crucial for managing chronic conditions effectively, and virtual visits provide an efficient and convenient way to maintain regular contact with my patients. These digital consultations allow me to monitor progress, adjust treatment plans, and provide timely advice, ensuring that my patients receive consistent and comprehensive care without the barriers of distance and time. Outside of my professional life, I enjoy hiking and spending quality time with my family. These activities provide me with much-needed balance and a way to recharge. By implementing virtual visits, I aim to improve patient outcomes and help bridge care gaps, ensuring all my patients receive the best possible care.