Sacramento-based UC Davis Health and telehealth provider Carena partnered to create the UC Davis Virtual Clinic, an online diagnosis and treatment service.
The 24/7 virtual clinic connects patients with low-acuity health conditions — like the flu, pink eye or rashes — with a provider on-demand, without a prior appointment. Patients connect with one of Carena's remote physicians or nurse practitioners by either telephone or video software, like Skype or FaceTime.
After an evaluation, remote providers can send prescriptions to a nearby pharmacy or refer a patient to an in-person primary care provider or emergency department, if needed. Each virtual visit is $40; the UC Davis Virtual Clinic does not accept insurance.
"While many of our clinics already offer same- and next-day appointments for urgent care, virtual care is yet another way of making healthcare easy and accessible for those we serve," said Michael Condrin, director of clinical operations at UC Davis Medical Center in Sacramento.