Have A Tablet, Phone or PC? Then The Doctor Can See You Now

Today, Tacoma-based Franciscan Health System introduces Franciscan Virtual Urgent Care, a healthcare service that allows anyone in Franciscan’s service area to receive care for a wide range of common conditions 24/7 via phone or video chat on smartphone, tablet or PC.

Franciscan offers the full spectrum of primary and specialty care, and nowvirtual urgent care extends that same quality care to the public any time of day or night, from the comfort of their own home.Franciscan is also one of the first hospital systems in the U.S. to provide virtual urgent care to the public.

Franciscan Virtual Urgent Care will cost $35 per visit, which is less than the cost of an average office visit and a fraction of the average cost of an emergency room visit.  

“We tested the Franciscan Virtual Urgent Care with our own employees before expanding it to the public, so we know this model of care delivery works,” said Franciscan Health SystemChief Operating Officer Cliff Robertson, M.D. “As our healthcare system evolves, patients have more control over their healthcare dollars. We are innovating to provide care more efficiently,conveniently and at a lower cost.

Franciscan Virtual Urgent Care gives patients more choices for how and when they access their medical care.”

For the last four years, Franciscan has partnered with Seattle-based Carena to provide virtual urgent care to Franciscan employees as part of their health benefits package. In July 2012, Franciscan expanded the service to provide after-hours care topatients of its primary care clinics. Now Franciscan is againpartnering with Carena to roll out Virtual Urgent Care to the public.  Virtual Urgent Care has the potential to serve thousandsof patients in the South Puget Sound area.

“Carena has a long history of making health care more accessible and affordable for patients on their terms.  Our 98 percent satisfaction rating demonstrates that patients value the convenience and quality of virtual care,” said Ralph C. Derrickson, Carena’s President and CEO. “We have enjoyed a multi-year relationship with Franciscan, and we are thrilled to partner with them as they showcase how technology can change the face of health care delivery in the United States. 

Patients using Virtual Urgent Care will have access to board-certified doctors and nurse practitioners for after-hours medical diagnosis, treatment planning and prescriptions, if appropriate.Since Virtual Urgent Care is not yet covered by insurance,Franciscan is keeping the price low so that the service is affordable and accessible to the public as part of its mission tocreate healthier communities. 

“Virtual care is a complement, not a substitute, to the in-person services we already provide to patients,” continued Robertson. “It’s another way for us to be there for patients who need medical care right now.”

For more information on Franciscan Virtual Urgent Care, visit www.franciscancarenow.org.

For a video demonstrating Franciscan’s Virtual Urgent Care, visit http://youtu.be/D8SX1a3mpm8.