Estimated read time: 2-3 minutes
This archived news story is available only for your personal, non-commercial use. Information in the story may be outdated or superseded by additional information. Reading or replaying the story in its archived form does not constitute a republication of the story.
Parents are all familiar with being awakened in the middle of the night by a sick child. Now, parents who once felt helpless at not being able to conveniently see a doctor late at night have a new option. Intermountain Connect Care® is a TeleHealth service that connects patients with Intermountain providers through video and audio conferencing on the web and using the Connect Care app on mobile devices.
Here are four ways that Connect Care adds to your healthcare options.
Always available
The Connect Care office never closes, as the service is open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. You can log in to your Connect Care account, select a provider and get the care you need no matter the time of day.
“This means that for many minor medical problems, patients can receive treatment from an Intermountain provider from their home or office without the need to come to an urgent care or doctor’s office,” said William Daines, MD, Intermountain Connect Care’s medical director.
A flat fee, regardless of insurance coverage
A typical healthcare visit starts with a co-payment. Then, depending on insurance coverage, it is a question of how much will be the patient’s responsibility. Connect Care is a flat $49, whether you have insurance coverage or not. Some insurance companies will cover some of the cost.
“Not all medical conditions are appropriate for TeleHealth evaluation and treatment,” said Daines. “If the provider feels that an in-person evaluation is needed immediately, the provider will refer you to a local in-person clinic and we won’t charge you for the TeleHealth visit.”
Access to medical records
A big advantage of Connect Care is that it’s connected to Intermountain’s electronic health records. This is important because the providers have access to your previous visits, and they will also note the details of the TeleHealth visit in the system, which is especially important if you are referred for a face-to-face visit.
Connect Care can also send certain prescriptions to pharmacies. The information in your health records are vital providers prescribe medications. They can verify if there are any allergies or other medications you are using to avoid dangerous drug interactions.
Brings the doctor closer to you
There are Utahns in many rural towns with limited access to primary care and many people in urban settings with limited mobility. Connect Care brings the doctor’s office to them.
“Patients in rural areas typically have to cover long distances to see healthcare providers, and even in cities some patients have a hard time getting to their doctor or an urgent care, so the ability to connect with a provider instantly over a video link will save patients time and money,” said Daines.
Connect Care can be accessed at www.IntermountainConnectCare.org or by downloading the app for Apple or Android.
