D-HH launches 24/7 virtual urgent care service
Apr. 25—LEBANON — Now more than ever consumers are seeking convenient access to health care for urgent care concerns. To meet this growing demand, Dartmouth-Hitchcock Health's (D-HH) Connected Care and Center for Telehealth has partnered with MDLIVE to launch D-HH Virtual Urgent Care. Rather than traveling to an emergency room or urgent care clinic, people needing non-emergency care can now connect with a provider by phone or by video on their laptops or mobile devices from the comfort of home — or any place they may be.
The service provides patients 24/7 access to urgent care by fully licensed providers from Dartmouth-Hitchcock, with back-up coverage by MDLIVE-affiliated physicians who are board-certified, licensed, telehealth-trained, and have an average of 15 years of experience. Patients can choose to see the next available provider or schedule a visit later the same day for more than 30 common conditions including cold, flu, and other upper respiratory illnesses, allergies, bug bites, rashes, gastrointestinal issues, urinary tract infection, and many more.
"The pandemic made virtual care necessary for safety reasons, but patients soon learned to appreciate the convenience of seeing their providers virtually. With D-HH Virtual Urgent Care, patients experiencing minor illnesses such as colds, sinus infections, nausea and others, can be seen in the comfort and privacy of their homes, offices or any location," said Mary Lowry, Administrative Director, Dartmouth-Hitchcock Connected Care. "When the patient is seen, our providers can diagnose, prescribe medication and send prescriptions to the patient's pharmacy of choice — it is a simple, private, low-stress experience."
Just like office or emergency room visits, D-HH Virtual Urgent Care visits comply with Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPPA) guidelines and ensure patient privacy. Patient and visit details are shared only with the patient's primary care physician. Physicians will prescribe medication when appropriate and send prescriptions to the patient's pharmacy of choice. That allows D-HH patients to connect to a provider through a trusted service and receive the medication they require, no matter where they are when they need care; at home, at work or out of town.
The average wait time to have a virtual doctor visit is less than 15 minutes. The cost for D-HH Virtual Urgent Care is $59 per visit, payable by credit, debit, or Health Savings Account (HSA) cards. At this time, D-HH Virtual Urgent Care is available to individuals who hold private health insurance and those who self-pay.
With nearly two million people residing in rural communities across northern New England, virtual care will play an increasingly vital role in providing patients with access to the care they need, where and when they need it. D-HH Virtual Urgent Care offers a low-cost and convenient option for urgent care needs.
D-H Connected Care was founded in 2012 with a primary objective of helping to deliver outstanding health care to the region independent of a patient's physical location. D-H telehealth services are designed to drive accessible, efficient and effective care by complementing and enhancing existing programs and services provided in local communities.
For information on D-HH Virtual Urgent care, including frequently asked questions, visit go.d-h.org/virtualurgentcare.
