Simplify access to care with virtual visits to your provider

Virtual care, or telemedicine, is a healthcare option that connects patients with doctors remotely to provide care when and where it is convenient for you. You can avoid the wait or inconvenience of an in-person visit with your doctor and instead receive care via phone, video, or text.

Accelerated by COVID-19 and technological advances, virtual care is becoming an increasingly popular healthcare option. Here are some of the main reasons you might choose a virtual care option for your next doctor’s appointment: 

1. Cost
   Healthcare can be expensive. Without the need for front desk support, exam rooms, and medical supplies, costs can be reduced for many primary care services when you choose a virtual care appointment.
2. Access
   National wait times to see a primary care provider (PCP) are on the rise, and it’s getting harder for people to get the care they need, when they need it. For those who live in rural areas with limited primary care options available nearby, and even longer travel times to factor in, access becomes an even bigger obstacle. Virtual care makes it possible for people in rural communities to get treatment. Don’t forget – as a LifeWise member, you have exclusive access to Kinwell Clinics and virtual care options.
3. Convenience
   When you’re sick and don’t want to leave the comfort of your own home, virtual care is a great option. In addition to skipping the travel times, and waiting rooms, virtual care offers appointment times outside of regular clinic hours so you can conveniently access primary care services within a schedule that works for you.
4. Flexibility
   Life is busy. Virtual care makes it quicker and easier to prioritize your healthcare without needing to rearrange your entire schedule around a visit to a doctor’s office.While many health concerns can easily be addressed via virtual care, others need to be addressed with an in-person visit. Some examples of concerns that can be addressed via virtual care are:

• • Asthma and allergies
  • Respiratory illnesses
  • Skin rashes and bites 
  • Travel medicine
  • Ear infections
  • Specialist referrals

If you are unsure about whether a virtual care appointment is right for you, consult with your doctor. 

You can also contact the LifeWise 24-Hour NurseLine and speak to a registered nurse by calling the number listed on the back of your ID card. Calling the 24-Hour NurseLine is free, confidential, and a great first point of contact if you need help deciding which care option is best for you. For any emergency or life-threatening conditions, call 911 or go to an emergency room immediately.

To learn out more about which virtual care options are available to you, sign in to your LifeWise account and review your plan benefits.