Columbia, Tenn.-based Maury Regional Health launched its own telehealth app in October, offering patients affordable, near-instant urgent care virtual visits.
The app, called Maury Regional ondemand, is available 24/7 and boasts wait times of just five to seven minutes. Patients are able to connect face-to-face with a provider using their smartphone or tablet's camera; the platform is also available via web browser on computers equipped with audio and video capabilities.
"We don't want this to interfere with the primary care provider," Mark Kirschbaum, PhD, RN, Maury Regional's vice president of population health, told local newspaper The Daily Herald. "This is for what we would call minor illnesses. From headaches to bronchitis, a Maury Regional ondemand urgent care provider can help."
Urgent care services are priced at $69 through the ondemand service, through which necessary prescriptions can be automatically sent to a pharmacy of the patient's choice. Though the app does not file insurance on the patient's behalf, they can manually submit the provided receipt for reimbursement.
Though Dr. Kirschbaum told the outlet usage of the app has been low since its early October launch, he said the health system expects to see an increase as flu season continues and as Maury Regional boosts promotional efforts throughout the open enrollment period. He also noted that the app holds great potential for the care and management of diabetes and other chronic illnesses.
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