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How does Meritus Health bridge the gap between when most doctor’s offices and urgent care facilities close and a rush to the emergency department for a nonemergency need? Welcome to the virtual care clinic.

For the last year, five primary care providers from Meritus Health have dedicated time to an after-hours virtual care clinic. Appointments are available from 7 to 10:30 p.m. and patients may schedule them directly through the MyChart patient portal used by the entire health system.

“This offers some convenience when a patient really wants a face-to-face appointment, but just can’t get in to see their primary care provider that day,” says Christina Scuderi, CRNP, one of the providers at the virtual care clinic. “With this virtual visit, a patient can point to what hurts and our providers can evaluate symptoms, determine if a prescription is appropriate and then direct them back to follow up at their primary care practice.”

“It’s important for patients to understand that we are not here to take the place of their primary care physician or provider,” Scuderi says.

There are some guardrails as to what is appropriate and beneficial for a virtual care clinic appointment. All patients must be at least 18 years old, so no pediatric patients. Appointments are for 30 minutes each and are not for the management of chronic conditions.

“We see a good number of people with sinus and other ear, nose and throat concerns; rashes that they would like someone to take a look at and many patients who have received a COVID-19 positive test result and want to know more about quarantining, treating symptoms at home and retesting,” says Scuderi.

She says while the virtual care clinic providers may order labs for some cases or provide a prescription for the pharmacy to fill, patients are always directed back to their primary care physicians for a follow-up appointment.

Medication refills are limited to non-controlled substances only.

“Having access to primary care is often something people are very concerned about and this clinic offers that connection to a health care provider when you don’t have an emergency and you can’t find an urgent care open to go to,” says Scuderi. “It’s another need Meritus Health is meeting on the continuum of care for our community.”

Medication refills are limited to non-controlled substances only.

“Having access to primary care is often something people are very concerned about and this clinic offers that connection to a health care provider when you don’t have an emergency and you can’t find an urgent care open to go to,” says Scuderi. “It’s another need Meritus Health is meeting on the continuum of care for our community.”

This Your Health Matters column first published in The Herald-Mail and on HeraldMailMedia.com in December 2021.