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Sickness never strikes at a convenient time. Just ask any busy parent, anyone who has been short on time or transportation, or had the where-with-all to take off of work. While virtual health care can’t replace face-to-face medical care entirely, it certainly can break down barriers to accessing care.
Just ask South Texas mom Danielle. Earlier this month and from the comfort of her couch, Danielle connected with a physician who evaluated her 6-year-old daughter, Talia, who had just finished a round of antibiotics, yet her symptoms persisted. Danielle was worried Talia would just be prescribed another round of antibiotics. Danielle hadn’t had the best experiences with other virtual care providers, but she decided to try CHRISTUS On Demand Care. She describes the experience as personalized, convenient and exceptional: “The doctor chatted with us,” she said. “There was no rush to get us off of the phone. The doctor cared and listened.”
These are the types of comments we strive for at CHRISTUS Health because they highlight the personal relationships we work so hard to develop and the care we aim to offer all, regardless of how it’s provided, whether in-person or virtually. We are proud to empower people to manage their health care from home with support from our health care professionals.
We decided recently to drastically expand access to virtual health care across Southeast Texas with the launch of CHRISTUS On Demand Care. These virtual visits allow patients to meet with a CHRISTUS Health caregiver through live video from their smartphone, tablet or computer for their urgent care needs from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. every day of the week, including Saturday and Sunday, and even holidays.
This new service compliments scheduled virtual visits already in high demand and available to new and existing patients. CHRISTUS On Demand Care means no commute and no busy waiting room. People, like Danielle and her daughter, will always have an option to see their doctor in-person.
But we want them to have another level of convenience, comfort and safety if they need it. We want to respond to the needs and wants of anyone with busy schedules, those who live in secluded areas, or those who need quick access to an urgent care doctor in minutes. Built specifically for a consumer’s health care needs,
CHRISTUS On Demand Care providers can treat anything from allergies or rashes to even the flu, all from the comfort of a location and a time convenient for the user. The virtual visit allows someone to be placed in a queue and seen quickly by the first available CHRISTUS board-certified provider. Expected wait times are no longer than 30-minutes and are currently averaging a wait of just a few minutes. People can get the same high-quality care they would expect from an in-person visit without requiring them to leave their homes or office.
CHRISTUS On Demand Care is for anyone who might need to see a provider right away. You don’t need to be an existing patient with us. We also want the communities we serve in Southeast Texas to know that we keep their privacy top of mind. All video visits are HIPAA compliant. Anyone who might need a virtual visit needs a smartphone (iPhone or Android) device, iPad, tablet, laptop, or a computer – as long as they have a working camera and microphone.
If a virtual visit starts and a doctor thinks the person might benefit from an in-person visit, one can be arranged in another setting like a clinic or emergency room. If further testing like blood work or consultations is necessary, CHRISTUS On Demand Care can also help facilitate referrals and provide other helpful instructions.
To schedule CHRISTUS On Demand Care visit christushealth.org/virtual-medicine There is no additional cost associated with a CHRISTUS On Demand Care visit. Nearly all major medical insurances cover CHRISTUS On Demand Care visits. Depending on the insurance plan, one might have a co-pay, just like seeing a provider in a traditional office setting. Medicare and Medicaid also currently cover virtual visits like CHRISTUS On Demand.
I’m truly excited about this because it is just another way we are able to live out our mission of extending the healing ministry of Jesus Christ and we’re extending our mission to all, whether they can get in to see us in-person or not.
Paul Generale is Executive Vice President and Chief Strategy Officer for CHRISTUS Health. If you have a guest column for The Enterprise, email your idea or the column itself to Opinions@BeaumontEnterprise.com If you have something to say, we want to hear from you!
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