In today’s fast-paced world, convenience and efficiency are essential, especially when it comes to quality health care. At The Elliot, we believe in innovation and continuously improving our care to better serve our patients. This is why we have launched The Elliot VirtualER, where you can get care from The Elliot’s Emergency physicians for non-life-threatening ailments and injuries virtually. It’s a groundbreaking service, revolutionizing the way patients receive care for their urgent medical needs.
Dr. Matthew Dayno with Elliot’s Emergency Department says the VirtualER service bridges the gap between patients’ concerns and immediate access to expert care. “The program brings board-certified emergency physicians directly to the fingertips of the patient to help assist with either attending to their care virtually or getting them to the right location at the right time,” he explains.
How Does the VirtualER Work?
Elliot Hospital’s VirtualER service is an online platform that virtually connects patients to Elliot emergency-certified physicians, ensuring they receive the same level of expertise they would expect from an in-person visit at our Emergency Department (ED). When patients don’t know where to go to get the help they need, they can see our doctors through the VirtualER and either be treated virtually or be triaged to one of our urgent care centers or the ED for a physical examination.
What Conditions Can Be Treated Through the VirtualER?
Our VirtualER service caters to a wide range of patients, particularly those who are unsure whether their condition warrants an ER or urgent care visit. For non-life-threatening conditions such as minor burns, cold and flu symptoms, or UTIs, the VirtualER is where you should start. “For patients who are trying to figure out if this is an emergency department or urgent care type of visit, and they are unsure of where they need to be, this is a great service to help them with that.” Dr. Dayno explains.
Our doctors will assess your needs virtually, and if no in-person care is needed, they can care for you right then and there and get you on your way – getting you back to your day quicker – and for the cost of an office visit. If, after evaluation, your medical concern requires in-person care, they will seamlessly transition you to Elliot Urgent Care or The Elliot’s Emergency Department as necessary, with no charge for the virtual visit. This team can also get you started with any diagnostic testing you might need as part of your care, further maximizing your time.
How Do I Make an Appointment?
Booking a VirtualER appointment through our MyChart patient portal is quick and easy to do from any phone, tablet, or computer. Patients who don’t already have a MyChart account will need to create one (and it’s free to do so) to use the VirtualER service. Once logged in, patients can request a same-day appointment by selecting from the available time slots lasting 15-20 minutes.
In cases where virtual care isn’t sufficient, patients can be expedited to the ER with the team already briefed on their condition, ensuring a smoother, faster, and more informed treatment process. “If we see a diagnosis that we’re concerned about and requires a physical visit, we talk to the patient about what to expect and then we notify the Emergency Department that our patient is presenting there.” Dr. Dayno says this allows the ED team to see everything that was documents during the virtual visit and provide more personalized care.
Remember, please call 9-1-1 for any life-threatening conditions. Learn more about life-saving care at Elliot Hospital’s Emergency Department here.
Commitment to Our Patients
With Elliot Hospital’s VirtualER, patients can find comfort and confidence knowing that trusted health care is now closer than ever “I’m really proud of this service in terms of talented emergency physicians that are really at the fingertips of patients,” says Dr. Dayno. “Being able to make good health care decisions and ensuring patients get the right care at the right time is our commitment to you.”