St. Vincent’s Medical Center in Bridgeport is using technology to free up its facilities and physicians with the launch of Myvirtualcare.com, an online diagnosis and treatment service that connects patients with St. Vincent’s clinicians and promises to provide rapid diagnoses and greatly speed up treatment for common ailments.
“With Myvirtualcare.com, patients can skip the trip to the doctor’s office and still get the care they need, when and how they need it,” said Dianne Auger, Senior Vice president, Chief Strategy Officer, St. Vincent’s Medical Center. “We are excited to be at the leading edge of this new technology, which is taking health care beyond bricks and mortar and into the virtual realm.”
According to St. Vincent’s, the service, powered by the online diagnosis provider Zipnosis of Minnesota, provides patients with a relatively cheap and quick diagnosis for a variety of common conditions such as sinus infections, female bladder infections, pink eye, or colds, coughs, and the flu ”“ for a set fee of $35, less than the cost of many insurance co-pays.
“Not only have patients found it convenient and easy to navigate, they appreciate the relatively low cost for this care,” said Dr. Frank Scifo, medical director at St. Vincent’s MultiSpecialty Group. “It has enhanced both the patient and provider experience because care is available when physician offices or convenient care sites are closed or may not be easily accessible.”
According to St. Vincent’s, patients begin a virtual visit at Myvirtualcare.com by completing an online adaptive interview that adheres to the latest evidence-based medical guidelines and is similar to what they would experience in a face-to-face visit. The patient’s medical history and symptoms are then forwarded to a St. Vincent’s provider for review and diagnosis. When the diagnosis and treatment plan are complete, typically within one hour, the patient receives a text or email alert. If a prescription is appropriate, Myvirtualcare.com allows the provider to send the prescription electronically to the pharmacy of the patient’s choice. If the clinician determines that the patient’s symptoms require a face-to-face visit, St. Vincent’s staff will help the patient book that appointment.
The hospital is promising attentive service with St. Vincent’s clinicians available for virtual diagnosis seven days a week from 8:30 a.m. to 10 p.m. Patients may access Myvirtualcare.com 24/7 via computer, smartphone or other web-enabled device, and off-hour visits will be reviewed and followed up on within one hour of opening the next day.
