By Claire Antczak, OSF St. Joseph Medical Center
Companies of all kinds are constantly working hard to streamline their product and produce a better outcome. A lot of effort is put into saving consumers time and money. The medical field is no different and is embracing the benefits of technology to better serve patients.
Over the past decade, the concept of videoconferencing medical professionals has progressed from an idea to a reality. Many hospitals around the country are adopting systems that allow patients to video call a medical professional for minor illnesses or injuries without an appointment. Once an on-demand request is made, the system arranges a visit with the next available provider. Patients are usually seen by a provider in 30 minutes or less.
This saves the patient time in a variety of ways including drive time to and from the medical facility and the wait time to be seen by the doctor. Calling from home eliminates the stress of transporting sick and upset children while removing any chance of picking up germs while in the medical facility. It could also be useful for patients in rural areas who can’t easily access a clinic in an urgent situation.
Another great reality of utilizing the advances of technology in the medical field is that telemedicine can be offered around the clock from any location. The American Telemedicine Association estimates about 450,000 patients will see a doctor through the Internet this year for a primary care consultation, making virtual care an extremely fast-growing area of health care.
Telemedicine is appropriate for patients with urgent, but not serious, health conditions such as sinusitis, bladder infections, ear infections, pink eye, cough or bronchitis, bug bites or stings, and colds and flu. The providers can help determine if an injury or illness requires an in-person visit or not. By treating a minor health concern sooner rather than later, virtual urgent care can help prevent a condition from escalating.
Virtual providers can prescribe medication if clinically appropriate. Antibiotics, allergy medications, anti-nausea medications, and skin creams or ointments are medications commonly prescribed through an online call. Prescription refills and ongoing care are to stay in the care of your primary care physician (PCP) or specialist.
Utilizing virtual urgent care does not replace the need for a PCP. The virtual service will make sure your PCP receives a summary of your online visit to ensure seamless communication and quality care. You can also get a copy of the virtual visit. All information and your privacy will stay secured as the provider follows the same industry standards as hospitals.
Telemedicine provides a quick, affordable alternative to the traditional in-person clinic visit. Check with your insurance provider and individual hospital’s virtual urgent care system to become informed about what insurance covers and what costs are out of pocket.
OSF HealthCare recently launched their virtual urgent care system called OSF OnCall. To learn more or to request a visit, go to osfhealthcare.org/oncall.
Photo credit: AndreyPopov/iStock