KentuckyOne Health to offer virtual urgent care across Commonwealth - Archived
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Barbara Mackovic, Senior Manager
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KentuckyOne Health to offer virtual urgent care across Commonwealth
Kentuckians to have 24/7 access to doctors online and over phone
Louisville, Ky. (September 19, 2013)— KentuckyOne Anywhere Care will launch on November 1, allowing Kentuckians to receive urgent care without leaving home—by consulting with a medical professional over the phone or by web camera, 24 hours a day, seven days a week. KentuckyOne, the largest health system in Kentucky, is among the first hospital systems in the U.S. to make such a service available to the public.
“KentuckyOne Health’s purpose is to expand access to quality health care, no matter where you live in the Commonwealth; KentuckyOne Anywhere Care is one way we are doing that,” said Ruth W. Brinkley, chief executive officer of KentuckyOne. “This service gives consumers a new option for how and when they access health care. We will be there for you when you’re not feeling well--after hours, weekends and when you are traveling.”
KentuckyOne Anywhere Care will cost $35 per visit and is paid by patients, whether or not they are covered by insurance. The cost is less than typical urgent care and a fraction of the cost of a normal emergency room visit.
New or established patients can request a visit on the KentuckyOne Anywhere Care website or by calling a toll-free phone number. They will receive a phone or video chat call from a medical provider within 30 minutes.
With KentuckyOne Anywhere Care, patients will have access to board-certified doctors and nurse practitioners for around-the-clock medical diagnosis and treatment planning. If needed, the KentuckyOne Anywhere Care provider will refer patients for a follow-up clinic visit or to an emergency department.
As with other primary care providers, KentuckyOne Anywhere Care providers may prescribe medications, recommend an over-the-counter medication, or provide home care options. Providers will not prescribe or refill prescriptions for controlled substances.
KentuckyOne Anywhere Care will be offered through a partnership with Carena, Inc., a pioneer in the use of telemedicine. Carena has been providing virtual medical care services since 2010 and today serves over 500,000 patients in its corporate programs, and more than 1 million consumers for the Franciscan Health System in Tacoma, Washington. Common issues addressed include urinary tract infections, sinus infections, flu, upper respiratory infections, allergies, rashes and pink eye.
“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 are thrilled to partner with KentuckyOne Health and help to showcase how technology can change the face of health care delivery in the United States.”
Prior to launching KentuckyOne Anywhere Care to the public, KentuckyOne will make the service available to all its employees who live in Kentucky, beginning later this month.
“With KentuckyOne Anywhere Care, we can provide primary care to more Kentuckians, while saving them time, hassle and expense,” Brinkley added. “We can treat conditions before they become more acute, as well as prevent unnecessary and costly emergency room visits. All of this adds up to a healthier Kentucky.”
About KentuckyOne Health
KentuckyOne Health was formed when two major Kentucky health care organizations came together in early 2012. KentuckyOne Health combines the Jewish and Catholic heritages of the two former systems – Jewish Hospital & St. Mary’s HealthCare and Saint Joseph Health System. In late 2012, the organization formed a partnership with the University of Louisville Hospital | James Graham Brown Cancer Center. The nonprofit system is committed to improving the health of Kentuckians by integrating medical research, education, technology and health care services wherever patients receive care. KentuckyOne Health has more than 200 locations including hospitals, physician groups, clinics, primary care centers, specialty institutes and home health agencies, with nearly 15,000 employees across the state of Kentucky and southern Indiana. KentuckyOne Health is the largest health system in Kentucky.
About Carena, Inc.
Carena, Inc. is a Seattle-based team of medical, consumer service, and technology professionals committed to delivering the best health care experience possible. The technology-enabled care delivery model provides access to healthcare 24 hours a day, 365 days a year via phone, video chat, and the traditional house call. Carena provides health care solutions to patients through self-insured organizations, health systems, and direct to consumer through caresimple.com resulting in lower medical costs and high patient satisfaction. Carena’s unique 24/7 services were designed to support the patient primary care provider relationship by providing care and education when the patient’s primary care provider is not available. Carena is redefining health care by changing how patients access care and providers deliver it. Since 2010, Carena has provided virtual medical care to about 500,000 workers at major employers in Washington and California. More information about Carena is available at www.CarenaMD.com.
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Publish date:
Thursday, September 19, 2013