OSF now offers 24/7 online medical service
- Details
- Published on Monday, 01 June 2015 15:23
- Written by Paul Gordon
OSF Healthcare is offering a new service that provides 24/7 access to medical care over the Internet.
OSF OnCall, which is made for non-emergency, minor illnesses, is open to patients throughout Illinois via their smartphone, tablet or computer, OSF announced in the news release Monday.
“Everyone is busy. We know that getting in to see a provider can sometimes be a challenge, so we want to make it easier,” said Jeffry Tillery, MD, chief transformation officer for OSF Healthcare System. “It’s a modern-day house call. Thanks to improvements in telemedicine, you can ‘see’ a medical provider in the comfort of your own home.”
OSF OnCall is ideal for minor complaints such as urinary tract or sinus infections, rashes, pink eye, colds and flu. Patients with more serious issues will be referred to an OSF PromptCare or emergency department. Each virtual visit is just $35, paid by debit or credit card. A provider will determine within the first three minutes if the condition would be better treated at a nearby medical facility. If so, a fee will not be charged for the OSF OnCall visit.
OSF OnCall is being offered throughout Illinois, particularly in the central and northern regions served by OSF HealthCare hospitals, the release said. “For those in more rural areas, where travel can be difficult, this is the perfect option,” said Daniel Lau, MD, OSF Medical Group, Pontiac.
The service uses board certified physicians and advanced practice nurses to assess the caller’s situation, said OSF spokesman Jim Farrell. While the service is based in Seattle, all the professionals are licensed to practice in Illinois, he said.
OSF OnCall can be accessed online at www.osfhealthcare.org/virtualcare. Once logged in, patients are connected directly to a medical professional who will be able to see them using the camera on their device. This allows for a face-to-face consultation and assessment.
Other advantages to OSF OnCall:
• No appointment necessary. A typical virtual visit takes 30 minutes from sign-in to finish, with an average of 20 minutes direct interaction with the medical professional.
• Patients use the pharmacy of their choice.
• The medical record from the visit is shared with the patient’s primary care provider. If they don’t have a PCP, OSF HealthCare will help get them one.
“As a busy father, having access to something like OSF OnCall is really a game-changer for patients. If you don’t have to take a sick child to a doctor’s office, sometimes with other kids in tow, think how much easier that is for everyone,” said Matt Gorman, DO, medical director, Clinical Informatics, OSF Saint Francis Medical Center.
OSF OnCall is the result of a partnership with Carena Inc. a leader in helping health systems deliver new ways for patients to access health care.
