There's no question the holidays are a busy time of year. From holiday shopping to family get-togethers to travel, it can be hard to find time to schedule an appointment if you start to feel under the weather.
Thankfully, virtual urgent care visits are a great way to be seen by a medical professional without having to leave the house. Virtual visits are typically reserved for minor illnesses or injuries — if your injury is more serious or you believe you'd benefit from seeing a medical provider in person, visit our website to book your visit.
So what exactly can you expect from a virtual visit and how can you get yours set up? We're discussing everything you need to know about virtual visits for the holiday season.
*telehealth may not be available in all states
What Is a Virtual Medical Appointment?
Virtual visits are appointments that allow you to talk with a medical provider from the comfort of your home when you're unable to come into a clinic. Your appointment can be done from wherever you have reliable internet service and a camera, including a laptop, smartphone, desktop computer, or tablet.
How Do Virtual Medical Appointments Work?
These visits are done via video call so you can communicate with the medical provider as though you are there in person. This also allows you to show your provider an injury or specific concern. If you have a non-emergency health concern, you can receive the same level of care through a virtual appointment as you would an in-person visit.
Why Schedule a Virtual Appointment?
It can be difficult to find time for an in-person appointment when you feel under the weather, especially during the holiday season. You're also more prone to get sick this time of year.
With a virtual visit, you can avoid having to rearrange your calendar — and if you're worried about spreading your illness, an at-home appointment can prevent this. You can quickly receive a diagnosis and treatment plan for your illness without having to leave the couch.
Many people worry about the cost of a virtual appointment, but at CareNow®, you'll spend the exact same amount on a virtual visit as you would an in-person appointment. You can check our website to see if we accept your insurance.
How to Schedule a Virtual Visit Over the Holidays
To schedule a virtual visit at CareNow, follow these steps:
- Visit the CareNow Website: Go to the official CareNow website.
- Find Your Location: Locate and select your nearest CareNow clinic.
- Virtual Visit Option: Look for the virtual visit option on the clinic's webpage. It might be labeled as "Virtual Care" or "Virtual Visit."
- Follow Instructions: Click on the virtual visit option and follow the provided instructions. You might need to create an account or log in if you already have one.
- Schedule Your Visit: Choose a suitable date and time for your virtual visit. CareNow often provides a scheduling tool where you can pick an available time slot.
- Provide Details: Enter your personal and medical details as required during the scheduling process.
- Confirmation: Once scheduled, you should receive a confirmation email or message with the date, time, and instructions for your virtual visit.
Need a Virtual Visit? Learn More About Our Virtual Care
What Conditions Can You Make a Virtual Appointment For?
Virtual visits are usually best for milder issues such as a cold, allergies, a rash, etc. If you're experiencing something like a sprained ankle or head injury, you should be seen in person by a medical provider.
If you choose to have a virtual visit, understand that during the evaluation, it may be recommended that in-person testing or in-person evaluation is more appropriate. If you're unsure whether your condition warrants an in-person visit or if a virtual one would suffice, you can contact CareNow® before scheduling an appointment.
CareNow Virtual Visits
Here's a list of conditions that would work well with a virtual visit:
- Allergies: Seasonal allergies are the most frequently treated condition at CareNow® and are easily diagnosed via a virtual visit.
- Bladder/urinary tract infection: You don't have to wait until you can make an appointment with your primary care provider anymore — simply share your UTI symptoms with a medical provider and have a treatment plan in place that day.
- Bronchitis: With bronchitis, the best course of action typically includes over-the-counter and prescription medications, which can be prescribed by a provider after your virtual visit.
- Cold sore: In the case of a cold sore, a provider will likely want to see the impacted area over video and hear about your symptoms so they can make an informed diagnosis.
- Flu/COVID-19: Since these two conditions are extremely contagious, it's usually best to speak with a medical provider from home to avoid spreading the virus to other people.
- Migraine/headache: If you're suffering from a migraine or headache, your provider will want to know the specifics of the situation, such as symptoms and pain levels. Then, they can cover various treatment options to help you recover quickly.
- Pinkeye: A provider should be able to diagnose pink eye immediately after examining your eye virtually and listening to your symptoms. This is another very contagious condition, so it's a good idea to take your appointment from home.
- Rash: As with other skin conditions, a rash is another great option for a virtual visit. Because they're so visible through video, a provider can easily tell if that's what you're dealing with and prescribe a medication to help treat it.
How Do You Do a Virtual Medical Appointment?
The first step to setting up your virtual appointment is to visit our website. There, you will be given the option to check in online, and our team will send you a link where you can check in for your virtual visit.
Even if you're out of town and nowhere near your local CareNow® clinic, you can still get top-rated care from our qualified providers.
How to Prepare for Your Virtual Visit
Before your appointment, there are things you can do to set yourself up for success. For instance, jot down a list of your symptoms and your questions so you can address them during your visit.
Be sure your internet connection is running smoothly so you don't experience cut-offs or delays during your appointment. To avoid distractions, find a quiet place without much noise. Headphones can be a great option if a noisier room is your only choice.
If you're dealing with a minor medical condition this holiday season and don't have time to make an in-person appointment (or are worried about spreading your illness), consider a virtual visit at CareNow®.
You can take the appointment from anywhere and get back to your day quickly. Plus, we've earned the distinction of Accredited Urgent Care Center from our industry's association, Urgent Care Association (UCA), so you know you're getting great care from our qualified providers.
Should you need to follow up with an in-person appointment after your virtual visit, you can visit our website to find the clinic nearest you.
We've got more than 225 locations throughout the country with each open after hours and on the weekends. We also offer a Web Check-In® feature that allows you to wait from anywhere!