MedStar Health Surpasses 1000th Online Doctor Visit
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eVisit Makes Urgent Care Accessible Anywhere Consumers Are Connected
Columbia, Md. (Monday, March 6)—MedStar Health’s virtual visit telehealth service, MedStar eVisit, marked a significant milestone this month when it provided its 1000th online doctor visit, securing its place in the health system’s growing network of quality care that is convenient and accessible. Launched as a pilot to employees, MedStar eVisit was expanded as an offering to the general public in October 2016.
Increasingly, consumers expect personalized care that is convenient and coordinated. Use of virtual visits is expected to grow rapidly and could account for nearly one-fifth of medical visits within the next 10 years.
Virtual medical visits can be effective in treating common conditions, such as mild flu-like symptoms, coughs and colds. Other minor conditions that are suited for virtual visits include skin rashes, pink eye, allergies, and known urinary tract or yeast infections. For assistance in determining whether MedStar eVisit is suitable for their condition, consumers can download a guide to care options.
“Offering virtual medical visits is an extension of MedStar’s commitment to making quality health care convenient and accessible,” said Stephen R.T. Evans, MD, MedStar’s chief medical officer. “The easier we can make it for individuals to seek care, the more likely they will be helped early on, when symptoms and illnesses can be easier to treat. Using telehealth also empowers individuals and makes them equal partners in their care,” he said.
MedStar’s technology partner is American Well®, a leading telehealth company whose Amwell™ service is accredited by the American Telemedicine Association. Danielle Russella, president, customer solutions, at American Well said: “MedStar is known for delivering advanced care to patients for a wide range of conditions. From urgent care, to chronic condition management, to follow up appointments, telehealth will allow MedStar to extend care into the communities it serves, and beyond. We are honored to help bring eVisits to life and, most importantly, to the MedStar community.”
Encounters using MedStar eVisit cost $49 and qualify as a reimbursable healthcare spending account expense. The cost can also be reimbursed through certain health insurance plans, depending on one’s plan. The MedStar eVisit app is available free for Apple or Android mobile devices, or can be accessed from a computer online.
MedStar has been steadily adding online options that give consumers more control over their healthcare experience. In addition to being able to see a doctor online 24/7 using MedStar eVisit, patients also can use online appointment scheduling, and online check-in for MedStar PromptCare urgent care visits.
About MedStar Health
MedStar Health is a not-for-profit health system dedicated to caring for people in Maryland and the Washington, D.C., region, while advancing the practice of medicine through education, innovation and research. MedStar’s 30,000 associates, 6,000 affiliated physicians, 10 hospitals, ambulatory care and urgent care centers, and the MedStar Health Research Institute are recognized regionally and nationally for excellence in medical care. As the medical education and clinical partner of Georgetown University, MedStar trains more than 1,100 medical residents annually. MedStar Health’s patient-first philosophy combines care, compassion and clinical excellence with an emphasis on customer service. For more information, visit MedStarHealth.
About American Well
American Well uses telehealth to improve people’s access to quality care. Through our partnerships with the nation’s largest health systems, insurers, employers, and retailers, our award-winning telehealth Exchange and our direct-to-consumer service Amwell™ we connect millions of Americans to the doctors they trust for live video visits. Through the power of telehealth, we help patients get the care they need in a timely fashion, and help doctors be there for their patients. We build technologies to make healthcare go where people need it most. For more on how we are changing healthcare delivery through telehealth, visit AmericanWell.com.
American Well and Amwell are registered trademarks or trademarks of American Well Corporation in the United States and other countries. All other trademarks used herein are the property of their respective owners.