E-Visits Convenient, Efficient for Minor Health Problems

Technology has become an important and beneficial part of modern health care. 

For a variety of minor health issues, established patients of most Premier Physician Network providers now have the opportunity to take advantage of using new technology with a MyChart E-Visit.

This service is offered to help save patients time and energy when they need care for common, minor health issues. An E-Visit allows patients to virtually “visit” their health care provider through the Premier MyChart online patient portal instead of making a trip into the office.

E-visits are a convenient, worthwhile option for current patients who are generally in good health. 

Through the MyChart online portal, patients can answer questions so that their provider can decide if their health care needs can be met with an E-Visit or if seeing their doctor in-person would be a better choice.

E-Visits might be useful for health issues including:

• Back pain
• Cough
• Diarrhea (loose, watery bowel movements)
• Fatigue
• Headache
• Heartburn
• Red eye
• Sinus problems
• Urinary problems
• Vaginal discharge/irritation

Each E-Visit costs $30, which is billed directly to the patient not to an insurance company. A patient can submit the bill to insurance for reimbursement, but Premier Physician Network does not submit E-Visits to the insurance company. If the E-Visit cannot be completed, the provider can direct the patient to be seen in the offices and there is no charge.

The Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) cites some of the advantages of E-Visits as:

• Continuity of care with your primary care provider instead of an urgent care or emergency department physician
• Convenience
• Efficiency
• Reasonable costs

Providers can prescribe medication or other treatment options for your health issue, as they relate to your E-Visit. 

During an E-Visit, you will spend about 10 minutes answering questions about your symptoms. Once you submit the E-Visit, a member of our professional staff, such as a physician or advanced practice provider, will review your symptoms and medical history and respond with a treatment plan or instructions to schedule an office visit. We will typically respond to your E-Visit request within one business day, but we cannot guarantee this response time. If you send your message on Friday, Saturday, or Sunday, you should receive your reply on the following Monday. 

An E-Visit is a valuable tool, but there are some health care situations that aren’t appropriate for a virtual health care provider’s visit.

Some things that would restrict you from having an E-Visit include:

• You are breastfeeding
• You are not at least 18 years old
• You are pregnant
• You are not a current patient of a Premier Physician Network office
• You are outside of Ohio at the time you submit an E-Visit

Also, E-Visits are not meant for serious health problems or emergency situations. If you have an emergency, call 911.

E-Visits are not appropriate for medication refill requests, paperwork for disability placards, prescriptions for controlled substances, school or work note requests. 

To learn more about E-Visits, talk with your doctor or find a provider or sign up for MyChart or to submit an E-visit.